The Government Information Office (GIO) said yesterday it planned to sue Public Television Service (PTS) acting chairman Cheng Tung-liao (鄭同僚) over alleged irregularities in his use of the network’s funds and demand his dismissal.
The escalation of the controversy surrounding the government’s plan to reorganize PTS’ board of directors came after failure to clear up an allegation that Cheng had appropriated NT$2 million (US$62,600) from the network’s funds in a lawsuit in connection to the dispute.
“If PTS fails to give a clear account of the matter by Jan. 25, the GIO will not rule out the possibility of filing a lawsuit against Cheng and other people involved,” the GIO said in a statement.
Cheng filed an injunction on Jan. 9 to halt the appointment of eight board members, who were appointed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government in August — a move regarded by Cheng and some civic groups as a means for the government to control the network. The original line-up of new directors — scheduled to be installed the next day — were dismissed as a result.
Cheng and the other 13 incumbent PTS board members assumed their positions under the former Democratic Progressive Party government, with Cheng’s term scheduled to last until the end of this year. Chen Shih-min (陳世敏), one of the eight board members, announced a bid to replace Cheng.
The GIO alleged that Cheng’s failure to gain prior board approval before using NT$2 million of PTS’ funds warranted a violation of regulations governing the usage of the network’s funding.
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