Calling himself a victim of judicial reform, former DPP lawmaker Chou Po-lun (周伯倫) yesterday broke silence on his graft conviction and pressed lawsuits against five Supreme Court judges who upheld his conviction last month.
Chou, due to begin his six-year jail term today, said the judges, seeking to lull criticisms over their inefficiency, handed down their ruling against him without a careful review.
"I shall return, if granted the opportunity to appeal my case," an excited Chou told a morning news conference. "Under the so-called principle of speedy trial, the five judges wrapped up my case in just a week. They apparently sought to make a sacrifice out of me."
The former four-term legislator has petitioned for an extraordinary re-trial, which may not take place unless Public Prosecutor General Lu Ren-fa (盧仁發) and the Supreme Court both agree to the need.
Chou is found guilty of taking NT$16 million from Chiaofu Construction Corp during his stint as Taipei city councilor in exchange for his support of the firm's plan to turn a park to a commercial complex.
The scandal, known as the Ronghsing Park development affair, came to light in 1988 and has led several other former city officials and councilors to be imprisoned.
On Jan. 29 the Supreme Court upheld a High Court ruling last August that Chou be given a six-year sentence for his involvement in the 15-year-old corruption scam.
The venture ran aground following the scandal, and owners of the park donated it to the government.
Chou, 47, who since 1993 has held a legislative seat representing Taipei County, resigned his office on Jan. 30. On the same day authorities issued a ban on his foreign travel.
Contentious and quick-witted, Chou argued the Supreme Court judges failed to spell out his crime in the verdict except that he should not have violated his oath as a city councilor not to pursue private interests.
"Judged by that standard, all elected officials including the president may be found guilty," Chou said. "What kind of judges are they? Let prosecutors look into their probity and call me to testify if necessary."
Earlier, Chou moved his registered residency to Hualien County in eastern Taiwan so he may serve his term in a prison there. Prison authorities said there was nothing special about the jailhouse except for the scenic views surrounding it.
They said the former lawmaker will be given his own cell, about 6m2 in area, for the sake of safety.
Former DPP colleagues Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), Chang Chun-hung (張俊宏), Lin Chung-cheng (林忠正), Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) and Chen Chi-mai (
Hundreds of Chou's supporters will also take part in the event during which Chiu Chui-chen (
Chou's imprisonment will end his 20-year political career, as electoral rules bar people convicted of corruption from running for public office. He entered politics in 1982 when he worked as an assistant to Chen Shui-bian (
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