A group of PFP legislators paid a visit to the Ministry of Justice yesterday to push for a thorough probe into alleged cash-for-vote practices in Wednesday's Kaoh-siung City Council speakership election.
The PFP lawmakers, including Shen Chih-hwei (沈智慧), Li Hong-jyun (李鴻鈞), Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) and Chiu-yi (邱毅), presented a petition letter to the ministry saying that the PFP legislative caucus hopes law-enforcement authorities can speed up investigations lest relevant evidence be destroyed.
Vice Minister of Justice Hsieh Wen-ting (
Hsieh said that all investigative and prosecution authorities under the ministry have been probing the case and that the ministry will accelerate the work to finalize all probes as early as possible.
"Local people are welcome to offer leads or evidence to help facilitate the investigation," Hsieh said.
During the meeting, PFP Legislator Shen Chih-hwei (
Stating that the election of Chu An-hsiung (朱安雄), widely believed to be a representative of "black gold" or corrupt politics, as Kaohsiung City Council speaker has triggered a public uproar, Shen said the PFP wants to see swift action to stop speculation and restore confidence in the government's determination to establish clean politics.
Chu, an independent, stands accused by prosecutors of siphoning off money from several listed companies founded by him and of buying votes in the city council race. Both cases are awaiting trial. He had allegedly offered NT$10 million for each ballot cast for him in the speakership election. He garnered 25 ballots to win the top leadership post in the 44-member Kaohsiung City Council.
Most of the 25 ballots were believed to come from councilors of the PFP and KMT. Both KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
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