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Chu An-hsiung vows to crack down on corrupt election practices after release

"The prosecution concluded its case against me within 35 days, breaking a record in the history of Taiwan's jurisdiction."

Chu An-hsiung, Kaohsiung City Council speaker

Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Chu An-hsiung (朱安雄) yesterday resumed office after five and a half months in custody.

"The prosecution concluded its case against me within 35 days, breaking a record in the history of Taiwan's jurisdiction," Chu said at a press conference yesterday.

"I am ready to face a fair trial, but refuse to accept any form of persecution," he said.

Chu was released last week on NT$5 million bail.

Chu apologized to his constituents for causing political turmoil and social unrest, but noted that vote-buying has been a decades-long practice in Taiwan.

"I'm very uneasy about the political turbulence and social disturbance I have caused," Chu said.

He stressed that his case at Kaohsiung City Council was not unique.

"In terms of Taiwan's democratic politics, bribery for the speaker post of councils at different levels has been a practice commonly accepted by most political players, though they decline to point it out," Chu said.

Chu said he would not shirk his responsibility, and that he hoped to further crack down on corrupt election practices.

Chu said yesterday that he refused to accept a 22-month jail term because it was announced in a cursory way.

Although he was elected as speaker last December, Chu executed his stewardship for the first time yesterday.

On Dec. 29 last year, a request by Kaohsiung prosecutors for Chu's detention on a charge of bribery over the election of the speaker was granted by the Kaohsiung District Court.

Chu has been detained since then.

Yesterday morning, Chu was greeted by council personnel in front of the council building.

Chu stressed that he would execute his stewardship as long as his status as a city council member did not change.

Chu said last week that he would retire from politics when he finishes his term in 2007.

According to prosecutors, since December, the investigation has indicated that all but six members of the 44-seat council were involved in the scandal.

Prosecutors indicted Chu for his involvement in vote-buying in the city councilor election held early December last year and the prosecutor recommended 22 months in prison.

Chu denied the charges.

Meanwhile, a bribery scandal pertaining to Chu's deputy Tsai Song-hsiung (蔡松雄) is also under investigation.
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