Hsinchu Prosecutor Wu Chao-ying (吳昭瑩) indicted Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) yesterday on charges of breach of trust and violations of the Business Accounting Law (商業會計法).
“Ker owes a total of NT$12 million [US$400,000] to Formosa Telecom Investment Co (全民電通) and his actions led the company to lose a total of NT$28 million including interest,” Wu said.
Wu said that the investigation was launched by the Supreme Court Prosecutors’ Office’s Special Investigation Section and then referred to the Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office.
Wu’s indictment said the case stems from 1997, when Ker was general manager of the company.
The indictment alleges that Ker took advantage of his position and cashed a NT$12 million check that was company property to solve personal financial problems. The sum was never repaid.
Prosecutors also said that in 1998, Ker again took advantage of his position to persuade shareholders of the company to authorize an investment proposal. They allege that Ker embezzled more money from the company to use for personal purposes.
As part of the investment proposal, shareholders agreed to put aside NT$32 million to purchase stocks in Lungyuan International Co (隆元國際), while Ker ended up NT$20 million in a private deal with Lungyuan. He then embezzled the difference of NT$12 million.
Prosecutors said Formosa Telecom lost a total of NT$24 million and an additional NT$4 million in interest.
Ker said yesterday that he had already reached an amicable solution with the company and the prosecutors were pursuing him for political reasons.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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