Chiu Yi found guilty of slander

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiu Yi (邱毅) was found guilty by the Taipei District Court on Friday on a charge of slander for accusing former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Yu Shyi-kun of illegally lobbying for a company.

The district court sentenced Chiu to 50 days in jail. His sentence was reduced to 25 days in accordance with a sentence commutation statute passed last year. Chiu's sentence can also be commuted to a fine. Chiu yesterday said he would appeal the ruling to the Taiwan High Court.

"Chiu Yi failed to offer solid evidence that Yu illegally lobbied for a construction company that won a construction bid from the Taiwan Power Company," the Taipei District Court ruling said.

The ruling added that Chiu's remarks had jeopardized Yu's reputation and were not protected under the freedom of speech.

According to the ruling, in March 2006, Chiu told the TBVS political talk show, 2100 Quan Min Kai Jiang (Speaking Your Mind at 2100), that a construction company was able to win a NT$5 billion (US$153 million) bid from the Taiwan Power Company because Yu was behind the company.

Chiu said his accusation was based on solid evidence, but when the court asked him to provide the evidence, he told the court the accusation against Yu was based on his suspicions.

Chiu has been facing multiple slander suits for revealing scandals without offering proof.

Chiu was also indicted in March 2006 for alleging that DPP Legislator Hsu Jung-shu (許榮淑) was involved in Futung Group's embezzlement of several billions of dollars.

He alleged Hsu had traded 600 Futung Group stocks before it was forced to cease trading on the stock market.

Prosecutors found Chiu's accusation was untrue.

This case was not heard in district court because Chiu and Hsu settled out of court.

Meanwhile, in other news, DPP Legislators Chiang Kuo-ching (江國慶) and Huang Chao-hui (黃昭輝) on Friday were found guilty in a slander lawsuit brought against them by the leader of the 2006 anti-President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) movement, Shih Ming-teh (施明德).

The two legislators were sued for calling Shih a "homeless mad dog," a "pervert" and a "bastard" during a press conference held in September 2006.

The Taipei district court handed down the verdict with a ruling that Chiang and Huang each had to pay NT$100,000 (US$3,000) to Shih in compensation.

Both legislators said they would appeal the case.

Chang Fu-chung (張富忠), a spokesman for the anti-Chen movement, said Shih would react to the ruling only after receiving the verdict in writing.

Additional reporting by staff writer