Former prosecutor-general Huang Shih-ming (黃世銘) was yesterday sentenced to 15 months in prison, which can be converted into a fine, for leaking classified information related to prosecutors’ investigations in an alleged case of influence-peddling involving Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平).
The leak of information to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and then-premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) in 2013 led to what was termed by media as “September strife” between Ma, then-chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), and Wang, who was stripped of his KMT membership.
However, Wang challenged the party’s action through a series of ongoing legal battles and was able to keep his position as speaker.
Photo: Wang Min-wei, Taipei Times
Wang allegedly used his political influence to press the Ministry of Justice to drop a legal case against Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘).
Huang was convicted of violating the Communication Security and Surveillance Act (通訊保障及監察法) by disclosing details of the investigation.
The Taiwan High Court’s ruling against Huang is final.
The case was taken to the High Court after the Taipei District Court sentenced Huang in March last year to 14 months in prison.
After the district court ruling, he resigned as state prosecutor-general, and on Jan. 16, he retired as a chief prosecutor of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.
Ministry of Civil Service officials said Huang’s conviction would not affect his right to receive a pension of about NT$170,000 a month.
Citing the Civil Service Retirement Act (公務人員退休法), they said that civil servants would lose their pensions only if they have been deprived of their civil rights by a court, are convicted of sedition or treason, lose their Republic of China citizenship, or die.
Ker yesterday criticized the court ruling, accusing the judiciary of intentionally delaying the process, so that Huang would be able to retire and be entitled to full retirement pension before the verdict is handed down.
He added that former Investigation Bureau director Yeh Mao-sheng (葉茂盛) was sentenced to two years in prison for “leaking classified information,” but Huang was sentenced to only one year and three months in prison for two criminal offenses.
“The judiciary is clearly biased and intentionally gave Huang a very light sentence,” Ker said.
On the other hand, Ker said that, if Huang is guilty, Ma is equally guilty, and he is only able to avoid prosecution because he is the president and legally cannot be indicted.
“The court ruling also shows that Ma is an accomplice in the case and must be prosecuted after he steps down,” Ker added.
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