Scandal-tainted Chu vows to return to job

After being released on NT$5 million bail on Thursday night, Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Chu An-hsiung (朱安雄) yesterday said that he will return to the city council for regular meetings on Monday.

"I am sorry that I could not do anything for my supporters during the SARS outbreak in Kaohsiung City as I was detained," Chu told reporters outside the Kaohsiung Detention House on Thursday night.

"I am hereby telling everybody that I am back and ready to resume my services to Kaohsiung City residents," he said.

Chu has been detained on the charge of bribery since Dec. 29. His position as council speaker was temporarily suspended but his job was automatically resumed upon his release.

The Kaohsiung City Council has been chaired by independent councilor Tseng Chang-fa (曾長發) while Chu was detained.

Chu was released at approximately 10pm on Thursday after Kaohsiung District Court Judge Lin Shui-cheng (林水城) decided to grant a request by Chu's lawyer, Lin Hsien-tung (林憲同), that Chu be released on bail.

"Chu was very cooperative and admitted to the bribery. There is no need to keep him in jail at this time," Lin said.

On April 7, prosecutors indicted 40 people in the bribery case surrounding last December's Kaohsiung speakership election. Thirty-four of the defendants are Kaohsiung City councilors.

Prosecutors are seeking prison terms for the 34, including Chu and Vice Speaker Tsai Sung-hsiung (蔡松雄), of between six and 30 months.

Prosecutor suggested a 30-month sentence for Chu and 28 months for Tsai.

On Dec. 25, Chu won the speakership after gaining 25 of 44 votes.

Chu is accused of having bought votes from his fellow councilors for NT$5 million each.

According to the indictment, independent councilor Tsai Ching-yuan (蔡慶源) had prepared to run for the speakership by paying five councilors NT$5 million each for their votes through independent Councilor Lee Jung-chung (李榮宗), who was then a PFP member.

On Dec. 24, after determining that he was destined to fail in the race, Tsai met with Chu and persuaded Chu to cover his expenses in exchange for backing Chu's bid.

Meanwhile, Tsai agreed to give up his bid for the speakership and sold five votes, for which he had paid NT$5 million each, to Chu.

Wang and Hsien allegedly helped Chu distribute bribe money.

Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) praised the district court and prosecutors for their work on the case, saying they set a good example.

Chen said he respects the decision to release Chu and encouraged the court to wrap up the case as soon as possible.