The Taiwan Solidarity Union yesterday condemned Chinese Nation-alist Party (KMT) Legislator Ho Chih-hui (何智輝), who has been charged with corruption with a recommended 18-year sentence, for registering to become a member of the Judiciary Committee in this legislative session.
Lawmakers two days ago finished signing up for committees for the current legislative session and Ho was one of a few controversial figures who chose to join the Judiciary Committee.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
"Ho has been involved in scandals and he went to the Mainland to avoid being investigated," said Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘), the TSU caucus whip.
"Now he has returned and has even signed up to join the Judiciary Committee. It is apparent that he is trying to tamper with justice to gain advantages in his case," Chen said.
"If Ho thinks that he has not broken the law, he should resign his seat and refrain from running in the election. He should not hide behind the immunity shield bestowed on the Legislative Yuan by the Constitution," Chen said.
Ho is alleged to have abused his position to gain loans in several instances.
Ho allegedly took advantage of his position as the Miaoli Country commissioner in the mid-1990s to procure a loan for which he was not qualified from Hsinchu Commercial Bank in 1995.
Ho also allegedly exerted pressure on subordinates to approve a construction proposal submitted by Chiuchun Development Co in 1997.
In 1999, Ho allegedly used his political power to again procure illegal financing, this time in the form of a NT$200 million loan from Kuo Hua Life Insurance Co.
Ho escaped to China last year to avoid going to court.
He returned earlier this month to participate in the vote for the reconsideration request on the statute governing the investigative committee probing the March 19 assassination attempt.
Ho's case is not unique. Other controversial figures who have decided to join the Judiciary Committee this session include independent Legislator Su Yin-kuei (蘇盈貴), who has been involved in several slander cases, KMT Legislator Lin Chin-chun (林進春), who is suspected of corruption, and Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Sheng-hung (陳信宏), whose wife Hsueh Ling (薛凌) has been suspected of insider trading.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RULES: A positive result in a drug test would result in a two-year license suspension for the driver and vehicle, and a fine of up to NT$180,000 The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to authorize police to conduct roadside saliva tests by the end of the year to deter people from driving while under the influence of narcotics, it said yesterday. The ministry last month unveiled a draft of amended regulations governing traffic safety rules and penalties, which included provisions empowering police to conduct mandatory saliva tests on drivers. While currently rules authorize police to use oral fluid testing kits for signs of drug use, they do not establish penalties for noncompliance or operating procedures for officers to follow, the ministry said. The proposed changes to the regulations require
The Executive Yuan yesterday announced that registration for a one-time universal NT$10,000 cash handout to help people in Taiwan survive US tariffs and inflation would start on Nov. 5, with payouts available as early as Nov. 12. Who is eligible for the handout? Registered Taiwanese nationals are eligible, including those born in Taiwan before April 30 next year with a birth certificate. Non-registered nationals with residence permits, foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses of Taiwanese citizens with residence permits also qualify for the handouts. For people who meet the eligibility requirements, but passed away between yesterday and April 30 next year, surviving family members
Taipei, New Taipei City, Keelung and Taoyuan would issue a decision at 8pm on whether to cancel work and school tomorrow due to forecasted heavy rain, Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑) said today. Hsieh told reporters that absent some pressing reason, the four northern cities would announce the decision jointly at 8pm. Keelung is expected to receive between 300mm and 490mm of rain in the period from 2pm today through 2pm tomorrow, Central Weather Administration data showed. Keelung City Government regulations stipulate that school and work can be canceled if rain totals in mountainous or low-elevation areas are forecast to exceed 350mm in
China Airlines Ltd (CAL) yesterday morning joined SkyTeam’s Aviation Challenge for the fourth time, operating a demonstration flight for “net zero carbon emissions” from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Bangkok. The flight used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at a ratio of up to 40 percent, the highest proportion CAL has achieved to date, the nation’s largest carrier said. Since April, SAF has become available to Taiwanese international carriers at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport), Kaohsiung International Airport and Taoyuan airport. In previous challenges, CAL operated “net zero carbon emission flights” to Singapore and Japan. At a ceremony at Taoyuan airport, China Airlines chief sustainability
RSS