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Convict lawmakers should lose their seats, DPP says

“How can the public condemn the legislature for letting him keep his seat? We are simply obeying the law.”

Wang Jin-pyng, legislative speaker

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus called for an amendment yesterday that would require that a lawmaker lose his or her seat if convicted of any crime.

“A convicted lawmaker hurts the legislature’s image,” DPP Legislator Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) told a press conference. “We need to fix this.”

The call for changes to the Legislators’ Conduct Act (立法委員行為法) came after the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction of independent Legislator Yen Ching-piao (顏清標) on charges of illegal possession of firearms.

As the court did not suspend his civil rights, Yen will retain his seat during his jail term.

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday brushed off criticism over Yen retaining his seat.

“How can the public condemn the legislature for letting him keep his seat? We are simply obeying the law,” Wang said.

DPP Legislator Wong Chin-chu (翁金珠) said the caucus had drafted and filed the proposed amendment.

“We hope the amendment will pass and take effect as soon as possible,” she said.

The Supreme Court upheld Yen’s sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison for illegal possession of firearms, but granted an appeal of his conviction on corruption charges, sending the case back to the Taiwan High Court.

In a written statement yesterday, Yen said he respected the Supreme Court’s ruling, but protested his innocence.

Yen said he was willing to forgo his salary as legislator while in jail, but stressed that his assistants would be paid as usual.

“I am willing to give up my legislative salary over the next three years,” the statement said.

Wang confirmed that Yen’s assistants would continue to receive their salaries.

Yen was convicted of using public funds to pay personal expenses during his time as Taichung County councilor, including to pay his tabs at hostess and KTV bars. Prosecutors said Yen embezzled more than NT$20 million (US$667,000) between 1998 and 2000.

Yen, a key figure in the Non-Partisan Solidarity Union, which maintains friendly ties with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), said he would not flee justice and serve his sentence. He said he would file another appeal against the corruption charges.

Additional reporting by CNA
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