Yunlin prosecutors led a team of special agents from the Ministry of Justice's Bureau of Investigation in a raid on Yunlin County Commis-sioner Chang Jung-wei's (
The prosecutors said they suspected Chang might be involved in a bribery scandal regarding the construction of the Linnei Incinerator, which will be completed and begin operating in October.
PHOTO: CHEN TSAN-KUAN, TAIPEI TIMES
"We simply tried to collect more crucial information or evidence that may help us investigate this case. Other than this, please forgive me, but I cannot tell you more," said Tsai Chi-wen (
Two teams of special agents were directed by Tsai and his colleague, Huang Yu-feng (黃裕峰). Tsai's team arrived at Chang's residence in the morning. Although their raid surprised Chang, agents and prosecutors decided to confiscate Chang's day planner, which detailed his recent appointments, four huge boxes of office documents and one of his safes. The raid at Chang's residence lasted for approximately two-and-a-half hours.
While Tsai's team was raiding the commissioner's residence, Huang's team was raiding his office. But prosecutors refused to reveal what they discovered or confiscated at the commissioner's office.
Chang is on his annual vacation, but he was traveling alone, as his wife and children were at home when the investigators arrived.
According to the prosecutor's office, the investigation into alleged bribery began in June, when they received a tip-off from an anonymous Yunlin resident, who claimed that Yunlin government officials -- including Chang -- had accepted a huge bribe during the administrative process for starting construction on the incinerator.
Tsai then began summoning the government officials specificied in the allegations. He began with county Environmental Protection Bureau Director Yen Jia-hsien (顏嘉賢) and the bureau's fifth department chief, Juan Yun-sheng (阮雲生), in June. Yen and Juan were immediately detained after the interrogation, but they were both released without bail last week.
Last month, prosecutors summoned Linnei Township Mayor Chen Ho-shan (
Neither Tsai nor Huang would confirm whether the raid on Chang's residence yesterday was an indication that the commissioner was involved in the scandal.
"We were doing what was necessary. It does not mean we will arrest anybody. It does not mean we are looking for more suspects, either," Tsai said.
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