Print

Mail

wiki links

KMT decries court decision on Chiu

A group of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators yesterday show their support for party member and colleague Chiu Yi, second left, after Chiu's appeal was turned down by the Supreme Court on Thursday. Chiu has been sentenced to 14 months in prison on charges of causing a public disturbance. PHOTO: CNA

Condemning the Supreme Court's rejection of Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiu Yi's (邱毅) appeal as political oppression, KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) yesterday vowed to extend the party's full support to help Chiu file an extraordinary appeal and seek to overturn the verdict.

The Kaohsiung District Court on Feb. 24 last year sentenced Chiu to 18 months in jail on charges of public disturbance. Chiu was found guilty of leading a group of protesters, hopping on a pickup truck and attempting to break through the gates of the Kaohsiung District Court on March 19, 2004.

rejected

Chiu filed an appeal with the Taiwan High Court's Kaohsiung Branch, which on Aug. 18 reduced the sentence to 14 months in jail.

Chiu filed another appeal with the Supreme Court, but his appeal was turned down on Thursday.

Wu said he believed the rejection by the Supreme Court was politically motivated.

"The ruling against Chiu ... is proof of government suppression of dissent and disregard for social justice," Wu told a press conference at the KMT headquarters yesterday.

Wu said that Chiu has become a target of the government because of "his popularity for bringing government corruption to light."

extraordinary appeal

Vowing that the party would support Chiu, Wu said: "We will assist him in filing an application for an extraordinary appeal ... to overturn this injustice."

An extraordinary appeal is filed by the prosecutor general to review a case in which a final judgment has been made by the Supreme Court.

"If Chiu Yi insists on running [in the legislative election], and the law permits him to do so, we'll give him priority nomination for district legislators or legislators at-large," Wu said.

Wu added that if the worst happened and Chiu were forced to go to jail, the party would organize a gathering to honor its "corruption fighter."

Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday urged law enforcement officials to handle Chiu's case "carefully" and "efficiently."

"Now that his verdict is a done deal, I hope that law enforcement officers will do whatever they are supposed to," Su said when addressing the legislature.

Minister of Justice Morley Shih (施茂林) said Chiu could be jailed within seven days at the earliest.

jail term

"By law, we will forward the notice and make sure that it arrives and is signed by Chiu within seven days. Once he receives the notice, he should report to prosecutors and begin his jail time immediately," Shih told the legislature.

Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday blasted the KMT for defending Chiu.

"I do not understand the KMT's logic," said DPP Legislator Lee Chen-nan (李鎮楠). "Chiu did something wrong and has to pay for it. Yet the KMT considers him a hero, which I think is ridiculous and inappropriate."

DPP Legislator Lin Chung-mo (林重謨) said Chiu should resign immediately.

"He has been convicted," Lin said. "If he stays in office, he will become an embarrassment to the legislature."
This story has been viewed 2050 times.