Taichung County prisoner to receive election certificate

Taiwan's top election official said yesterday that there is no question about the validity of Taichung County candidate Yen Ching-piao's (顏清標) election as legislator and that he will receive his certificate of election next week.

Yen, a former Taichung County Council speaker who enjoys extensive grassroots support and was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier this year on graft and attempted murder charges, was elected to the legislature with 34,000 votes as an independent in Taichung County last Saturday.

Huang Shih-cheng (黃石城), chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), said Yen's election as a legislator is an undeniable fact, but whether he will be allowed to be sworn in and implement his rights and duties as a legislator is another question.

Yen is currently in police detention and prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence for embezzlement, corruption and attempted murder, which in efect means he is unable to attend the legislative swearing-in ceremony.

Huang noted that if Yen could be released on bail or judged not guilty, it would be possible for him to be sworn in publicly, albeit retroactively, enabling him to undertake his duties as a lawmaker.

The legislative session, which starts Feb. 1, will run for three years and Huang pointed out that Yen can be sworn in at any point within the three-year period.

He added that, for the CEC's part, the commission will present Yen with his election certificate as scheduled. The body will, however, leave the issue of how he can take his oath of office and start his legislative duties -- to the Legislative Yuan to decide.

His comments followed reports that Yen, chairman of the lucrative Chenlankung Temple in central Taiwan, will not be allowed to take the oath in prison and consequently, will not be able to start his legislative duties.

The vice minister of the Interior said that, according to the rules, Yen must take his oath at the Legislative Yuan.