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Ministry under fire for reinstatement of indicted official

"Why has [the Democratic Progressive Party] failed then to understand the public's renouncement of corruption and reinstated a corrupt official?"

Kuo Su-chun, Chinese Nationalist Party caucus whip

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday slammed the government's decision to reinstate Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Hou Ho-shong (侯和雄), who was indicted on corruption charges last year.

KMT caucus whip Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) questioned the Ministry of Economic Affairs' motive in allowing Hou to take up the positions of counselor and director of the ministry's office in central Taiwan, alleging that the ministry could be trying to "prevent Hou from revealing more scandals."

Nantou prosecutors indicted Hou on Nov. 29 and sought a 20-year sentence and NT$5 million (US$156,250) fine.

Hou is considered to be a close associate of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

Prosecutors said at the time that they believed Hou had pocketed at least NT$350,000 from the state coffers. The court has not yet ruled on Hou's case.

Hou's position as vice minister of economic affairs had been suspended since his indictment, but the ministry on Tuesday night approved Hou's application for reinstatement.

The ministry transferred him to the position of counselor while allowing him to double up as director of the ministry's central region office in Nantou.

"The DPP considered its performance in the [Jan. 12] legislative election a crushing defeat. Why has it failed then to understand the public's renouncement of corruption and reinstated a corrupt official?" Kuo told a press conference.

KMT Legislator Wu Yu-sheng (吳育昇), who was present at the conference, demanded Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Chen (陳瑞隆) step down over the ministry's decision.

Wu said Chen had violated the law as he had failed to refer Hou to the Control Yuan for disciplinary measures as stipulated in the Law on Discipline of Civil Servants (公務人員懲戒法) after Hou was indicted.

Wu said Chen had also neglected his duties by failing to extend the suspension of Hou's post as Article Four of the Law on Discipline of Civil Servants empowers him to.
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