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SIP prosecutors release Koo Jr on US$3m bail

Chinatrust Financial Holding Co chairman Jeffrey Koo, center, arrives at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport early yesterday morning. PHOTO: YAO KAI-SHIOU, TAIPEI TIMES

Former Chinatrust Financial Holding Co (中信金控) vice chairman Jeffrey Koo Jr (辜仲諒) was released on NT$100 million (US$3 million) bail late on Monday night.

Koo was escorted to the offices of the Supreme Prosecutors Office’s Special Investigation Panel (SIP) on Monday morning after making a surprise return from Japan, where he had been in hiding since evading an arrest warrant that was issued in 2006 after he failed to answer a subpoena to appear in court over allegations of irregularities involving Chinatrust’s bid for rival Mega Financial Holding Co (兆豐金控).

The questioning began at around 11am and lasted for 12 hours.

Koo was also questioned about allegations that he was involved in alleged money-laundering by former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

Prosecutors decided not to restrict Koo’s movements or bar him from leaving the country.

“Given that he is not likely to flee nor collude with the other suspects, Mr Koo was released on bail,” SIP spokesman Chen Yun-nan (陳雲南) said.

After leaving the SIP offices at around midnight, Koo did not say anything about the investigations, but issued an apology.

“I would like to apologize to the public and to the shareholders of Chinatrust Financial Holding Co for being away over the past two years,” Koo said.

“I would like to help prosecutors conclude their investigation in order to minimize the impact on Chinatrust Financial Holding Co,” he said.

Confirming that SIP Prosecutor Yueh Fang-ju (越方如) flew to Japan last week, Chen would not confirm whether Yueh was sent to persuade Koo to return to Taiwan.

Chen also denied allegations that Koo had returned to Taiwan after being promised that he would not be detained.

“[Yueh] was in Japan last week, but I cannot tell you anything about the purpose of her trip,” Chen said. “I can assure you that we did not trade any promises in return for Koo’s return.”

After learning that his son had returned, Koo’s father, Chinatrust Financial Holding Co president Jeffrey Koo (辜濂松), returned to Taiwan yesterday morning from Lima, Peru, where he had been attending the APEC summit.

Asked for comment about his son, he only said: “Good for him.”
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