Print

Mail

wiki links

Bribe allegations surface in TV host gambling case

The Judicial Yuan yesterday said it would investigate a district court judge for allegedly accepting a bribe to acquit a TV host, who had been indicted on fraud charges.

Variety show host Hu Gua (胡瓜) was acquitted in January by judge Wu Meng-liang (吳孟良) on charges that he had installed hidden cameras in his residence to cheat on fellow gamblers during high-stakes mahjong games.

Wu resigned from the Taipei District Court last week.

But Chinese-language newspapers reported on Wednesday that the Taipei District Court had received an anonymous tip a few days ago claiming Wu had accepted a bribe of NT$10 million (US$303,030) to ensure that Hu was found innocent when the verdict was announced on Jan. 11.

The court later confirmed that it had received the tip-off.

Department of Judicial Administration Director-General Kao Chin-chih (高金枝) said the Judicial Yuan was taking the matter seriously, as it involved concerns about judicial impartiality and the reputation of a judge.

"We don't care that the judge has resigned. We will continue to pursue the matter with resolve until the truth is uncovered," Kao said in response to questions from Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) at the legislature's Organic Laws and Statutes Committee yesterday morning.

Kao yesterday said the Taipei District Court's internal affairs bureau has launched an inquiry into the allegation, and has already questioned Wu and tried to contact Hu's fiance, Ding Ro-an (丁柔安).

Ding, however, did not respond to the bureau's summons.

Wu, meanwhile, yesterday insisted that he had not accepted any bribe from Hu, saying he had been set up by a high-school classmate.

Wu said his classmate, identified only by his surname, Liang (梁), invited him to a get-together with two other high-school classmates. Wu said he thought it was merely an impromptu reunion, so he decided to show up.

Approximately one month later, Liang called him again and said he would like to talk about the "111" stuff. Wu asked what "111" was, before realizing that Liang was using code to refer to Hu's case, which was scheduled for a hearing on Jan. 11.

Liang then mentioned that his wife was a good friend of Hu's fiance, the judge claimed. He said that was when he realized Liang was trying to help Hu deliver a bribe.

"I immediately declined his request, stopped talking to him and reported the matter to my superior the next day. My resignation was merely part of my career plan, and has nothing to do with this issue," Wu said when approached by reporters for comments yesterday.

Hu, when asked for a response, replied: "This is absurd."

"[Ding] would not dare do something like that. She is too innocent," he said.

"This issue not only humiliates the judge, but it also hurts me and my family, too," Hu added. "If the judge could have been bribed, why would I have hired lawyer Koo Li-hsiung (顧立雄) to defend me, since he is so expensive?"
This story has been viewed 1818 times.