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Supreme Court backs jail for lawmaker

Legislator Yen Ching-piao (顏清標), an independent, still faces three-and-a-half years in jail for illegal possession of firearms after the Supreme Court turned down his appeal against his conviction yesterday. However, the court granted an appeal against his corruption conviction.

The Taichung Branch of the Taiwan High Court’s sentenced Yen to 11 years in jail on Feb. 12, including seven-and-a-half years for corruption. The Supreme Court has asked the high court to rehear the case.

The Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office said it would make sure Yen reported to jail on time.

“We will summon him when we receive the verdict from the Supreme Court and arrest him if he does not report to begin his jail time,” said Hung Pei-ken (洪培根), spokesman for the Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office. “But, as a lawmaker, he enjoys immunity during the legislative session so we cannot arrest him there.”

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said Yen would retain his seat because the judges did not deprive him of his civil rights.

“He will serve his jail time as a lawmaker,” Wang said. “When he goes to jail, he will not receive his legislative salary. But his assistants will continue to be paid.”

Yen said last night that he would respect the court’s decision.

Yen was convicted of using public funds when he was a Taichung County councilor to pay personal expenses, including hostess bar and KTV lounge bills. Prosecutors said Yen spent more than NT$20 million (US$667,000) between 1998 and 2000.

The weapons charges stems from an incident in which Yen’s bodyguards fired at a car he thought was following him. The car was hit by more than 40 bullets.
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