Former Executive Yuan secretary-general Lin Yi-shih (林益世) and his wife yesterday were questioned by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Division (SID) over an alleged bribery case in which Lin is named as a defendant.
Lin arrived at the the SID office at 4pm while his wife Peng Ai-chia (彭愛佳), a TV anchorwoman, arrived at the office 15 minutes later.
Peng left the SID office two hours later, while Lin’s questioning was still continuing as of press time.
Photo: Huang Chih-yuan, Taipei Times
Earlier yesterday morning, SID prosecutors searched Lin’s office and residences in Taipei City and Greater Kaohsiung. Investigators were seen carrying boxes as they left Lin’s residence in Greater Kaohsiung’s Fongshan District (鳳山) after four hours of searching, but they refused to answer reporters’ questions.
They also searched Kaohsiung-based Ti Yung Co and the residence of the owner of the metal recycling company, Chen Chi-hsiang (陳啟祥).
Chen has accused Lin of accepting a bribe of NT$63 million (US$2.15 million) to help him secure procurement contracts from China Steel Corp (CSC) and two of its subsidiaries in 2010, and of asking for a further NT$83 million this year.
Chen was questioned and released without bail by prosecutors on Saturday.
However, prosecutors named Chen a defendant in the case and prohibited him from leaving the country as well as moving from his current residence.
Prosecutors yesterday also searched CSC and one of its subsidiary companies, CHC Resources Corporation, where they took with them a number of documents.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chao Tien-lin (趙天麟) told a press conference on Friday that he was given an audio recording of a telephone conversation between Chen and Lin on March 10 this year.
In the recording, Lin not only asked Chen to give him NT$83 million, but also instructed Chen to give him the money in three installments, Chao alleged.
Chen’s attorney Wellington Koo (顧立雄), who accompanied Chen during the interview, said yesterday that Chen on Saturday had handed over the audio recording to prosecutors.
Lin has publicly denied that he ever took bribes from Chen or pressured anyone into paying a bribe. He has filed a lawsuit against Chen, charging him with aggravated libel.
Lin resigned from his Cabinet post on Friday, saying he wanted to focus on the legal proceedings.
Additional reporting by CNA
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