The top customs official in the country was slapped with a major demerit yesterday for a corruption scandal that involved one of his deputies and several other customs agents.
The Ministry of Finance said Directorate-General of Customs Director-General Wu Ai-kuo (吳愛國) was punished for “failing to supervise” the operation of customs because his lack of oversight had resulted in his subordinates taking bribes.
Directorate-General of Customs Deputy Director-General Lu Tsai-yih (呂財益) and three other officials have been detained since Thursday and are awaiting further investigation and probable indictments.
Also in custody were a former assistant to a legislator and six customs brokers and businesspeople.
On Wednesday, Lu and 28 customs officials and importers were questioned by Taipei District prosecutors over allegations of corruption.
Prosecutors suspect that Lu and the other customs officials illegally permitted the import of lotus roots, fish products and construction materials such as tiles and marble, and lowered the estimated value of the products to help importers evade import tariffs or pay reduced duties.
In return for such favors, the importers allegedly gave the officials bribes, meals at expensive restaurants and gifts, including high-grade swallows’ nests to make bird’s nest soup, according to sources close to the investigation.
The ministry said it had demanded the customs agency determine the individuals responsible and hand out punishments to officials proven to have been involved.
The customs agency was also ordered to come up with a mechanism to prevent similar scandals from happening.
Minister of Finance Lee Sush-der (李述德) said Lu and the other officials have been suspended and the Ministry of Civil Service was asked to put Lu’s retirement application on hold.
Lu was scheduled to retire next week, making him eligible for a monthly pension of more than NT$80,000 (US$2,780) as well as a civil servant insurance payment of NT$1.91 million.
He stands to lose all those benefits if he is convicted in court on corruption charges.
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