Judicial Yuan VP denies he gambled at mahjong

Judicial Yuan Vice President Cheng Chung-mo (城仲模) yesterday denied an allegation by Zanadau Development Corp majority shareholder Su Hui-chen (蘇惠珍) made last Friday that he was playing mahjong for money during a party at former China Development Holding Corp chairman Liu Tai-ying's (劉泰英) private club.

"I admit that I was there but I did not play mahjong, because I do not know how to play it," Cheng said. "What Su said during the hearing was not really true, I must say."

Cheng the remarks when he was approached by reporters during yesterday's farewell party for members of the Council of Grand Justices.

Several Judicial Yuan officials said that it was true that Cheng does not play mahjong.

According to Cheng, the party was held on Sept. 9, 1998, when he was still minister of justice. He said he had been invited to the party by Wei Chi-lin (魏啟林), who was then the director of the Cabinet's Central Personnel Administration, who had also invited many lawmakers to the party.

Cheng that Wei encouraged him to join the party because it was a good chance to socialize with lawmakers since Cheng was to be questioned during a legislative meeting on Sept. 11.

Su a hearing last Friday that Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) lost NT$4.68 million by betting during mahjong games. She also said Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Ke Chien-min (柯建銘) won NT$1.54 million, former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmaker Huang Hsien-chou (黃顯洲) won NT$1.14 million, former independent lawmaker Lo Fu-chu (羅福助) lost NT$1.53 million and independent Legislator Tsai Hao (蔡豪) won NT$3.7 million.