DPP legislator's aide arrested on corruption charges

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Gao Jyh-peng's (高志鵬) aide Yao Sheng-chih (姚昇志) was detained yesterday on charges of corruption.

Yao is alleged to have accepted a NT$10 million (US$303,030) bribe from Dong Feng Ge (東豐閣), a Taichung-based company that operates restaurants, in return for him helping the company win the right to lease land belonging to the Taichung City Government.

The land in question is located on Taichung City's Tungying Second Street and is about 1,600 ping (5,289m2) in area.

Dong Feng Ge had planned to build a hotel on the land, whic prosecutors said is worth NT$160 million (US$5 million).

NT$2 million bribe

Nantou prosecutors, who have been monitoring Yao's cellphone conversations, say they believe he has already pocketed a bribe of NT$2 million.

Nantou District Prosecutors' Office Spokesman Wu Tso-yan (吳祚延) said Yao had claimed sole responsibility for any crimes committed, but they suspected he may be trying to protect someone.

Late yesterday, prosecutors said they would investigate whether anyone else had been involved in accepting bribes from Dong Feng Ge.

Lin Yun-sheng

In related news, DPP Legislator Lin Yun-sheng (林耘生) sued CTI TV yesterday for reporting that prosecutors had raided his office at the legislature on Wednesday.

Lin told a press conference several media outlets reported the innacurate story on Wednesday, but that CTI TV had ran it first. His name and the names of his family's members were mentioned in the story, he said.

Lin said the report had caused serious damage to his reputation and the reputations of his family members.

The report surfaced around the time Nantou prosecutors were searching Yao's office.

Ping Hsiu-lin (平秀琳), the deputy director of CTI TV's news department, said the matter was being investigated.