Chiayi commissioner is sentenced for vote-buying

Chiayi County Commissioner Chen Ming-wen (陳明文) was sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison Thursday for vote-buying in the 2001 county elections.

The Chiayi District Court determined in its judgment that Chen, who invited about 3,000 of his supporters in 11 groups for a vacation at two holiday camps in the lead-up to the 2001 election, constituted vote-buying.

However, Chen might not have to go to jail, as the court suspended the jail term for five years.

Chen's wife and three of his campaign activists were also sentenced as accomplices to terms varying from eight to nine months, but all of the sentences were suspended for four years.

Chen disputed the sentence and vowed to appeal.