High court confirms TSU legislator's defamation verdict

Taiwan Solidarity Union Legis-lator Hsu Den-koun (許登宮) has been sentenced to a 50-day prison term or a NT$15,000 fine for defaming People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜).

"Hsu's remarks on Soong violated Article 310 of the Criminal Code and the court decided to uphold the district court's verdict because the defendant's argument did not persuade the court that it should be overturned," the High Court verdict said.

Article 310 of the Criminal Code prohibits the public circulation of unsubstantiated allegations with the intent to injure the reputation of others.

The verdict upheld a Taipei District Court verdict sentencing Hsu to 50 days in jail or a NT$15,000 fine for defaming Soong in 2002. The High Court verdict cannot be appealed.

Hsu did not appear at court. At press time he had not issued any comment on the verdict.

Hsu was sued by Soong after the former held a press conference on March 22, 2002, alleging that Soong had visited Japan, the Philippines and the US in 1999 on behalf of China's State Council. During the press conference, however, Hsu did not explain how the State Council had "arranged" Soong's trip or why he had leveled the accusation.

Former PFP spokesman Hsieh Kung-ping (謝公稟), Soong did visit the three countries, meeting several government officials, including former heads of state.