Prosecutors mull holding township chief in Yunlin

Prosecutors considering detaining the Mailiao (麥寮) Township chief in Yunlin County yesterday on suspicion of helping a businessman win a contract from Formosa Plastics Group’s sixth naphtha cracking plant.

The Yunlin District Court had not decided whether or not to detain township chief Lin Sung-li (林松利) and a businessman surnamed Chang (章) as of press time.

Prosecutors Lin used his influence to help Chang win a contract from the sixth naphtha cracking plant.

Prosecutors the contract showed that the plant allowed Chang to remove ash that was produced during the operation of the plant.

The plant agreed to sell the ash to Chang for NT$150 per tonne, but Chang then sold the ash to other companies for around NT$500 per tonne.

Prosecutors that the ash could be used to replace sand in construction projects.

Prosecutors they suspected Chang had given Lin money in kickbacks and were checking the pair’s bank accounts.

Prosecutors that as township chief, Lin might have threatened to launch protests against the plant in the name of environmental protection to ensure the plant’s cooperation in the scheme.

They suspected the plant might have yielded to Lin’s influence in the township and agreed to let Lin’s friend secure the contract.

But prosecutors added that Lin and Chang denied having committed any crimes, saying Chang won the contract legally.

Prosecutors that they wanted enterprises in Taiwan to have a safe environment in which to develop their business without having to worry about being blackmailed by local people in the name of environmental protection.