Members of the Songshan Tree Protection Union and the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association yesterday filed lawsuits alleging that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and former Taipei City Department of Finance commissioner Lee Sush-der (李述德) colluded with Farglory Land Development Co (遠雄建設) during the bidding process for construction of the Taipei Dome during Ma’s term as mayor of Taipei.
The groups rallied in front of the Special Investigation Division (SID) in Taipei, urging the agency to investigate Ma and Lee, saying that Ma’s immunity should not stand in the way of a probe into possible wrongdoing.
They lodged suits against Ma and Lee with the SID, the Control Yuan, the Agency Against Corruption, as well as the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office and the Investigation Bureau, while also providing findings from what they called a long-term investigation, including a Taipei Clean Government Committee report, which they said contained evidence of illegal dealings during the bidding process.
Photo: CNA
All five agencies accepted the documents.
Association attorney Tsai Ya-ying (蔡雅瀅) urged the SID not to shirk its responsibility to probe Ma.
She said the Constitution grants the president immunity, which prevents Ma from being indicted or convicted before his term expires, but that does not mean investigative work, and gathering and protection of evidence should be impeded.
As the committee report ties both men to offenses, including illegal profiteering, breach of trust and malfeasance, Lee should be indicted and convicted in line with standard procedures, while all evidence regarding Ma should be securely stored for use when the president steps down, Tsai said.
Songshan Tree Protection Union director Arthur Yu (游藝) criticized Taipei City councilors over their attitude toward the committee report as a number said it was a product of “political persecution” and aimed to “slander” Ma.
Yu challenged the councilors over whether they had even read the report, asking them to point out flaws in the document.
“Councilors should not uphold the will of their parties over the will of the people,” Yu said. “I challenge them to perform their duty to resolve controversies surrounding the Dome project, thereby defending [Taipei’s] dignity.”
In related news, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said that the city government would focus first on Lee while investigating allegations that Ma’s city administration had sought to illegally benefit Farglory.
“I care greatly about emphasizing procedural justice,” Ko said, adding that he believed Lee and Ma should be given an opportunity to defend themselves before the city’s accusations are sent to the Ministry of Justice.
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