Mon, Apr 14, 2003 - Page 3 News List

Newsmaker: Team of prosecutors quick to act on bribery scandal

By Jimmy Chuang  /  STAFF REPORTER

Yeh joined the force in 1993. Her role in the team was as Hsiao's assistant. In addition, she became a member of the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office's Black Gold Investigation Section last year.

Yeh is also a graduate student in National Chung Cheng University's law program.

Yeh's work performance was highlighted by her colleagues. But she has always tried to keep a low profile.

"I am just doing my job," she said.

The five-person team finished its investigation and indicted 40 people in the case on April 7. Thirty-four of the defendants are Kaohsiung City councilors.

Prosecutors are seeking prison terms for the 34, including council Speaker Chu An-hsiung (朱安雄) and Vice Speaker Tsai Sung-hsiung (蔡松雄), of between six and 30 months.

Prosecutors suggested a 30-month sentence for Chu and 28 months for Tsai.

On Dec. 25 last year, Chu won the speakership after gaining 25 of 44 votes.

Chu is accused of having bought votes from his fellow councilors for NT$5 million each.

According to the indictment, independent Councilor Tsai Ching-yuan (蔡慶源) had prepared to run for the speakership by paying five councilors NT$5 million each for their votes through PFP Councilor Lee Jung-chung (李榮宗).

On Dec. 24, after determining that he was destined to fail in the race, Tsai met with Chu and persuaded Chu to cover his expenses in exchange for backing Chu's bid.

Meanwhile, Tsai agreed to give up his bid for the speakership and sold five votes, for which he had paid NT$5 million each, to Chu.

Of the 34 councilors, 10 are DPP members, 10 belong to the KMT, six to the PFP and eight are independents.

The six defendants who are not councilors include DPP Legislator Lin Chin-hsing (林進興), former Kaohsiung Civil Affairs Bureau director Wang Wen-cheng (王文正) and the director of Chu's campaign office, Hsien Chi-yu (賢繼宇).

Wang and Hsien allegedly helped Chu distribute bribe money.

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