Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng’s (王金平) attorney yesterday requested that the Taiwan High Court hold a drawing of lots to decide which court would hear an appeal filed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) against the decision of a lower court over Wang’s party membership and speakership status.
The KMT’s attorneys on Monday filed an appeal with the Taiwan High Court against the ruling handed down by the Taipei District Court in favor of Wang on Friday.
Wang’s lawyer, Hsu Ying-chieh (許英傑), yesterday afternoon applied to the High Court asking that a public drawing of lots be held to decide which court will take the case.
Photo: CNA
“The lawsuit is very significant to the country. To ensure the suit is heard fairly and with credibility, we ask the High Court that a drawing be used to choose who hears the case,” Hsu said in the High Court.
“We hope attorneys of both sides watch the drawing process,” he added.
The High Court’s civil courts would hold a meeting to discuss Wang attorney’s application, High Court spokesman Hung Kuang-tsan (洪光燦) said.
Wang last week requested an injunction from the Taipei District Court against the KMT’s decision to revoke his party membership over his alleged role in attempting to influence a prosecutor in a legal case involving Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘).
The district court ruled that Wang may keep his rights as a KMT member until a final ruling on the condition that he secure NT$9.38 million (US$315,000) as a collateral deposit.
The ruling took effect on Saturday after being delivered to the KMT, the Central Election Commission and the legislature.
KMT attorneys argued the district court “has no jurisdiction” whatsoever over the case because disciplinary procedures against party members are“a matter within the scope of the autonomy of the party,” Chen said.
He added that his interpretation was supported by a verdict handed down by the Supreme Court of Japan.
The Taipei Department of Health yesterday said it has launched a probe into a restaurant at Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store after a customer died of suspected food poisoning. A preliminary investigation on Sunday found missing employee health status reports and unsanitary kitchen utensils at Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in the department store’s basement food court, the department said. No direct relationship between the food poisoning death and the restaurant was established, as no food from the day of the incident was available for testing and no other customers had reported health complaints, it said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Later
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