Prosecutor-general nominee Yen Ta-ho (顏大和) vowed yesterday in the Legislative Yuan not to leak details of any ongoing investigations to the president if his nomination is approved.
Yen’s nomination to be the successor to former prosecutor-general Huang Shih-ming (黃世銘) was jointly reviewed yesterday by the Internal Administration Committee and the Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee.
Huang stepped down earlier this month after being embroiled in controversy over his involvement in the so-called “September strife” between President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平).
The Taipei District Court last month found him guilty of leaking confidential information to Ma.
Ma has nominated Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Head Prosecutor Yen to replace Huang.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Wu Yi-chen (吳宜臻) said at the review meeting that “Huang became the first prosecutor-general convicted of briefing the president on an ongoing investigation. I hope you insist on neutrality in the office by not revealing any legal cases to Ma, particularly during the lead-up to the seven-in-one elections in November. I am afraid National Security Council [NSC] Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) might ask you to brief his council on information related to elections.”
“I really hope you insist on political neutrality and judicial independence if your nomination is approved,” Wu said.
“I promise not to brief the president on any investigations, not only President Ma, but also the next president to be elected in 2016,” Yen said.
“If there is a law authorizing me to attend an NSC meeting, I would go. If not, I would never go,” Yen said.
DPP Legislator Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) asked Yen: “What is your position on the Sunflower movement students facing criminal charges?”
Yen replied that there are many outstanding prosecutors in the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office.
“I believe the district prosecutors’ office will handle the cases appropriately,” Yen said.
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