Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南) yesterday said that prosecutors are not obligated to report to lawmakers and answer their questions and urged lawmakers not to "make the same mistake" again.
The Legislature's Judiciary Committee yesterday invited Chen and Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office Prosecutor-General Chu Nan (
"Please be advised! The Interpretation Article 325 to the Constitution clearly states that prosecutors stay neutral while they are investigating a case. Interpretation Article 461 also said that prosecutors are not obligated to report to any government offices to answer any government officials' questions," Chen said. "As a result, I told Chu not to come today."
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Chen said that only prosecutor generals or the state public prosecutor general has the authorization to order other prosecutors or ask them to brief a case. Other than this, prosecutors are not responsible to anybody.
"This is clearly stated in the law. Please respect this," he said.
The minister said that he hoped that it would not happen again.
"This is a mistake and I hope that the same mistake will not be repeated," he said.
Chen's remarks at the meeting yesterday morning stunned lawmakers.
PFP Legislator Chou His-wei (
"Please be advised as well that you guys, including prosecutors, belong to the Cabinet. However, Cabinet members are all obligated to report to the Legislative Yuan and answer lawmakers' questions. That is also stated in the Constitution. How dare you? You told us not to make the same mistake again but I also want to tell you to respect the system and respect the Legislative Yuan," Chou said.
"Even though Chu is absent today, our questions for him still exist and we will keep inviting him to join our meetings in the near future," Chou said.
Chen did not respond to Chou's protest as the meeting continued. However, Chou had to dismiss the meeting a few minutes later because there was another quarrel between DPP Legislator Liu Chun-hsiung (
Su was complaining to Chen that Kaohsiung prosecutors had overlooked a suspect in their investigation. He said that he possessed evidence to prove that a particular suspect was guilty and hoped that law enforcement officers would re-investigate it.
While Su was complaining, he implied that the "overlooked suspect" was Liu.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
Tropical Storm Podul has formed over waters north-northeast of Guam and is expected to approach the seas southeast of Taiwan next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The 11th Pacific storm of the year developed at 2am over waters about 2,660km east of Oluanpi (歐鑾鼻), Pingtung County — Taiwan's southernmost tip. It is projected to move westward and could have its most significant impact on Taiwan on Wednesday and Thursday next week, the CWA said. The agency did not rule out the possibility of issuing a sea warning at that time. According to the CWA's latest update, Podul is drifting west-northwest
RSS