Following a three-month formal investigation that began after he turned himself in -- and after having been on the run from the law for almost three years -- the Chiayi County Prosecutor's Office yesterday handed down a 45,000-word indictment against former Chiayi County Council speaker Hsiao Teng-piao (
Hsiao was indicted yesterday along with some 50 other officials on six counts, including blackmail, bribery, violation of liberty and breach of trust.
Seven other recommended charges against him, involving the soon-to-be-repealed "bandit law," were dismissed due to lack of evidence. They include kidnapping, extortion, fraud, and baseball gambling.
Since the six charges each carry sentences of less than five years in jail, however, it is most likely that Hsiao will be let out on bail soon after his trial starts.
Hsiao had been on the run from police since late 1996, when he was targeted during a large-scale anti-gangster crusade.
In February 1998, on the eve of the vote for the speakership of the Chiayi County Council, Hsiao abruptly announced he was withdrawing his candidacy, disappearing again from view.
He had not been seen in public since, before turning himself in on Sept. 17 this year.
Despite having been in hiding for so long, Hsiao has apparently also become involved unwittingly in a political war of words between Premier Vincent Siew (
Hsiao has hinted that the premier is closely connected to "gangster forces," among whom Hsiao's family is allegedly included.
Hsiao also claimed that he and Liao -- both from Chiayi -- were once good friends, and had regularly frequented hostess bars during Liao's tenure in the Executive Yuan, and that Liao had targeted him in the anti-gangster crackdown as a political move.
Liao said Hsiao's family dominated local politics in Chiayi and stood in the way of the political ambitions of Liao's family members.
Hsiao was indicted on blackmail in connection with events dating back to 1990, when he allegedly abetted subordinates who vandalized several construction sites, and then later volunteered to mediate between disputing parties. Hsiao then allegedly took NT$3 million out of a NT$10 million settlement fee agreed to by the parties.
In February 1993, Hsiao is said to have conspired with 11 officials to bribe 50 others employed at the Taipao city (
Hsiao was also indicted for violations of personal liberties involving an alleged kidnapping in 1993 of a Taipao representative who opposed a land deal backed by Hsiao.
The breach of trust charge against Hsiao stems from a credit co-op loan scam in June 1993 allegedly involving Hsiao and six other officials from the Shuishang village (
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