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.
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
A preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. In addition to flights to the Japanese cities of Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, the service would be available to travelers to Kobe and Oita. The service can be accessed by passengers of 15 flight routes operated by
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan yesterday was an independent event and part of a stress-adjustment process. The earthquake occurred at 4:47pm, with its epicenter at sea about 45.4km south of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 5.9km, the CWA said. The quake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in several townships in Yilan and neighboring Hualien County, where it measured 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the CWA said. Lin Po-yu (林柏佑), a division chief at the CWA's Seismological Center, told a news conference
RSS