Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Ling-san (林陵三) yesterday denied having an affair with a married woman, saying he would step down immediately if the allegations were proved true.
Lin's comments came one day after an independent candidate for Taipei City councilor asked the Control Yuan, the government's watchdog agency, to probe Lin's moral conduct.
PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Yu Pei-nong (
According to Yu, Tseng met Lin 20 years ago when she was a college student.
She alleged Tseng and Lin continued their affair even after Tseng married and that Lin gave his lover a monthly allowance of NT$20,000 during that period.
The candidate said Tseng decided to seek help after Lin decided to sever their relationship.
Yu urged the Control Yuan to punish Lin, saying that the minister has had a string of mistresses.
Lin, who is currently on sick leave, appeared briefly at the ministry yesterday morning and denied all of Yu's allegations.
Lin said he has known Tseng for more than 20 years but that their alleged romance is complete fiction.
"I will reserve the right to sue Yu, who I suspect made these unfounded charges for political reasons," he said, reading from a prepared statement.
Lin said he had never trespassed moral boundaries during his 30-year career as a public official.
"I believe my moral conduct can withstand any test," he told reporters. "I have given the premier an account of the matter and will step down right away if any of the charges against me prove true."
Premier Yu Shyi-kun reportedly expressed his approval of both Lin's morals and his performance, according to Cabinet spokesman Chuang Shuo-han (
Chuang said the premier gave a high appraisal of Lin's performance since taking over the Ministry of Transportation and Communications on Feb. 1.
Chuang said Lin talked with the premier on Wednesday and denied the allegations against him.
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