Convict and actress register to run in year-end elections

A former speaker of the Taichung County Council who was sentenced in August to 20 years in prison on graft and attempted murder charges registered his candidacy yesterday to represent Taichung in the legislature.

But Yen Ching-piao (顏清標) couldn't find the time yesterday to get away from prison to register his candidacy in person. His son, Yen Kuan-heng (顏寬恆), completed the process for him.

The younger Yen said his father decided to run for the legislature to confirm voters' belief in his innocence. Yen said his father feels that he has been unfairly treated.

Yen also said that he would campaign on his imprisoned father's behalf in the run-up to the elections.

Taiwan's election laws bar people who have been convicted for graft from running for public office -- but only once the conviction has been finalized by the nation's Supreme Court.

In a written statement, Yen Ching-piao, who is an influential member of a local political faction in Taichung County, said the decision to run for legislator was made after careful deliberation.

The elder Yen urged his constituents to send him to the legislature with their votes to prove that what happened to him was "unacceptable" to the public.

Also yesterday, film actress May Chin (金素梅) registered to run for a legislative seat as an Aboriginal representative.

One of her best-known performances was in The Wedding Banquet, directed by Ang Lee (李安), which was awarded a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1993.