The last asset declaration made by former Executive Yuan secretary-general Lin Yi-shih (林益世) does not reflect the large sum of cash prosecutors have uncovered so far, which makes him liable for a maximum fine of NT$4 million (US$136,000), according to asset declarations of officials published by the Control Yuan yesterday.
Data released by the Control Yuan showed that Lin reported a total of NT$40.64 million in assets in New Taiwan dollars on Nov. 17 last year, but did not declare any assets in US dollars or in cash.
However, prosecutors with the Special Investigation Division (SID) of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office have allegedly discovered NT$80 million in both NT dollars and US dollars held by Lin and his family. The sum included NT$18 million that was handed over by Lin’s mother, Shen Juo-lan (沈若蘭), and about NT$57 million uncovered from several safety deposit boxes rented under the names of the acquaintances of Shen and Lin’s wife, Peng Ai-chia (彭愛佳).
Lin, who is being held at the Taipei Detention Center, is accused of receiving bribes in US dollars worth NT$63 million from Chen Chi-hsiang (陳啟祥), owner of Ti Yung Co, a metal-recycling company, to help him secure slag treatment contracts from China Steel Corp and two of its subsidiaries in 2010, and of asking for another bribe of NT$83 million this year.
According to a Control Yuan official, the agency would demand Lin, upon being indicted, provide clarification of the inconsistency between the amounts reported in his latest asset declaration and the evidence listed in his court indictment.
If Lin failed to provide a rational explanation, the Control Yuan’s Department of Asset Declarations by Public Functionaries would file an evaluation report on Lin to the Anti-Corruption Committee, which would determine whether Lin should be disciplined and, if so, the amount of the fine to be imposed on him, the official said.
Based on Article 12 of the Act on Property Declaration by Public Servants (公職人員財產申報法), public servants are obligated by law to declare assets, and those who make false declarations due to intentional concealment of assets are liable for a fine ranging from NT$200,000 to NT$4 million.
The law also stipulates that public servants are subject to a fine of NT$200,000 if the amount of one’s concealed assets is valued at NT$2 million or lower, and should be treated with a maximum fine of NT$4 million if the concealed amount exceeds NT$40 million.
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