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Top judge resigns over affair allegations

A top judge resigned yesterday following media allegations that he was having an extramarital affair with a college professor.

"I have tendered my resignation both as a grand justice and vice president of the Judicial Yuan because my personal matters have impacted on society and the reputation of the judiciary," Cheng Chung-mo (城仲模) told reporters at a press conference held yesterday.

His resignation was accepted immediately by the Judicial Yuan.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), who appointed Cheng in 2003, also approved his resignation late yesterday afternoon.

In a statement, Cheng said the focus on his personal life by the media had "seriously undermined the reputation of the judiciary."

Cheng apologized to the officials who had nominated him, to legislators who had endorsed his nomination and to all those who had supported him.

Cheng, 68, came in for strong criticism from the public and lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties after newspapers reported that he and 38-year-old Wang Mei-hsin (王美心), an assistant professor at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, had visited a suburban Taipei motel on Sunday.

Cheng told the media he went out with the woman and that they checked into a motel because she had stomach problems and had to use the bathroom.

Wang, however, yesterday denied at a press conference that she had been to a motel with Cheng. At the press conference, she didn't answer any questions posed by reporters.

Cheng yesterday denied any wrongdoing, saying he only followed her into the motel in case she fainted.

Opposition caucuses demanded Cheng apologize for lying and urged judicial authorities to investigate his alleged dishonesty.

Prior to chairing a meeting of the grand justices during which Cheng explained how he would handle the incident, Judicial Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng (翁岳生) told press yesterday that media reports on the incident had far-reaching effects on the image of the judiciary and grand justices, who must "take the incident seriously."

Asked if any of the grand justices had challenged Cheng's explanation during the meeting, Judicial Yuan Secretary-General Fan Kuang-chun (范光群) said the issue had been discussed among the grand justices, whose statements he was not in a position to quote.

Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) caucus whip David Huang (黃適卓) said yesterday that Cheng had "made a wise decision" and agreed that a grand justice's behavior should be subject to the highest moral standards.

"This is not a legal incident but a moral one. Resigning is the best way of showing that he is willing to take responsibility," Huang said.

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻) said the DPP approved of Cheng's resignation and hoped the public would not spend too much time focusing on Cheng's private life.

"Public figures should value their influence and conduct themselves meticulously. Hopefully Cheng's resignation will bring the issue to an end," he said.

But Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators demanded an investigation into the scandal to restore the reputation of the Judicial Yuan and grand justices.

KMT caucus whip Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛) said that although Cheng has resigned from his positions, he still owed the public an apology for lying.

"Cheng stubbornly refuses to admit he's lying," Pan said. "And Judicial Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng (翁岳生) should also apologize for the grand justice's misconduct toward the public."

KMT Legislator Joanna Lei (雷倩) said Cheng's conduct fell short of what people expected of grand justices and requested "the Council of Grand Justices should actively investigate whether Cheng lied."

"Honesty is the cornerstone of justice," Lei said. "The truth needs to come out so that the credibility gap between the people and the judiciary won't grow any wider."

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The story of the man who blew his career in a motel

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