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One sentenced, one freed in Kaohsiung bribe trial

Kaohsiung District Court yesterday sentenced city Councillor Yang Ming-lang (楊敏郎) to 20 months in prison for accepting a NT$5 million bribe during last year's Kaohsiung City Council speakership election.

Presiding Judge Lin Shui-cheng (林水城), however, acquitted another independent councillor, Lee Chiao-ju (李喬如).

"There is not enough evidence to prove Lee guilty. That is the main reason for the court to judge her innocent," Lin said.

"As for Yang, in addition to his 20-month sentence, the court also decided to suspend his constitutional rights as a citizen for four years and confiscate the NT$5 million bribe money he received from Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Chu An-hsiung (朱安雄) in return of his vote during the election," Lin said.

Chu was elected speaker in December last year, but it soon became clear he had bribed a number of councilors to vote for him. Prosecutors have indicted 40 people, including a majority of the council's 44 members.

Lee attended yesterday's verdict but Yang did not. As of press time yesterday, Yang had not commented on whether he would appeal.

Prosecutors said that the director of Chu's campaign office, Hsien Chi-yu (賢繼禹), arrived at Yang's Kaohsiung residence with NT$5 million in cash seeking Yang's vote. Yang was not at home but his family accepted the money. Yang did not return the money and subsequently voted for Chu in the election.

Prosecutors said Lee accepted NT$5 million from Chu at former Kaohsiung Civil Affairs Bureau director Wang Wen-cheng's (王文正) office in December last year. Prosecutors had recommended a one-year sentence for her.

Kaohsiung Prosecutor Hsiao Yu-cheng (蕭宇誠) said his office would discuss Lee's acquittal and consider whether to appeal.

Lee said that she had been suffering ever since she was indicted.

"I am so glad that judges have proved me innocent and the verdict is the best gift for my supporters -- knowledge that the person they endorsed for was not involved in the bribery," Lee said.

In response to Hsiao's statement that prosecutors may appeal to the high court, Lee said that she would respect their decision.

"It is their job to question all kinds of possibilities, indict the suspects and appeal whenever necessary and I will respect that," she said. "However, I am also quite confident that they will not appeal my case this time."

Kaohsiung prosecutors indicted 40 people on April 7. Thirty-four of the defendants are Kaohsiung City councilors: 10 from the Democratic Progressive Party, 10 from the Chinese Nationalist Party, six from the People First Party and eight independents. Those who were members of parties have been expelled.

Eighteen have been sentenced -- 17 councilors and a national lawmaker.
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