Three medical officials and a businessman were taken into custody yesterday on suspicion of being involved in a growing scandal related to irregularities in public hospitals’ purchases of medical equipment.
Among them was Greater Taichung Mayor Jason Hu’s (胡志強) brother-in-law, Shaw Kuo-ning (邵國寧), who is superintendent of the Department of Health’s (DOH) Taichung Hospital.
The Taoyuan District Court early yesterday ordered that Shaw, Hsinchu Hospital superintendent Chen Wen-chung (陳文鍾), Chiayi Hospital superintendent Huang Lung-teh (黃龍德) and a medical supplier surnamed Lai (賴) be detained without bail.
The latest arrests were the result of raids on 17 locations in six -cities and counties conducted by eight prosecutors and more than 100 investigators on Friday.
Prosecutors were looking for evidence to back up suspicions that several hospitals affiliated with the DOH had shady financial dealings in tenders for ultrasound devices and purchases of biochemical equipment between 2009 and early this year.
Following the raids, 14 people were summoned for questioning, including the three superintendents who were later detained. Of the three, Shaw received the most media attention because he is the younger brother of Hu’s wife, Shirley Shaw (邵曉鈴).
Also summoned was Penghu Hospital head Lee Ming-chieh (李明杰). He was released on NT$200,000 bail after being questioned because prosecutors said they were satisfied he had divulged everything he knew about the case.
Spokesman for the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office Liao Chiang-hsien (廖江憲) said his office filed a motion to detain the three hospital superintendents and one businessman to prevent them from tampering with or destroying evidence.
Asked for comment yesterday, Hu said he was surprised to learn of the news.
“One week ago, I asked Shaw Kuo-ning whether he was involved in the hospital case and he said he was not, so I am surprised to learn of his detention,” he said.
Hu added that he respected the judicial investigation.
The four detained were the latest suspects to be held in the investigation into financial dealings between public hospitals and medical equipment suppliers.
In the first round of investigations, DOH Hospital Administration Commission CEO Hwang Kun-chang (黃焜璋), who is in charge of 29 public hospitals under the DOH, was detained along with Keelung Hospital superintendent Lee Yuan-fang (李源芳).
Prosecutors said that Hwang was suspected of conspiring with suppliers on several major bids.
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