Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Chao-ming (陳超明), who had been detained on suspicion of corruption, was released on NT$5 million (US$174,410) bail on Friday, but is under home detention and barred from leaving the country.
When leaving the Taipei District Court after posting bail, Chen said that he was innocent and not involved in corruption.
He would offer his side of the story at a news conference, he said.
Photo: CNA
Chen, Sufin Siluko of the KMT, Su Chen-ching, (蘇震清) of the Democratic Progressive Party, and former New Power Party legislator Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明) were indicted in September for alleged breaches of the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) in a case related to ownership of the Pacific SOGO Department store chain.
Prosecutors accused them of accepting bribes from former Pacific Distribution Investment Co chairman Lee Heng-lung (李恆隆) to help Lee in his legal battle against Far Eastern Group over ownership of the department store chain.
Prosecutors said that Lee allegedly made payments to the lawmakers since 2013 to buy influence and help him retake ownership of Pacific SOGO, one of the most profitable department store chains in Taiwan.
Former Su aide Kuo Ke-ming (郭克銘) served as an intermediary responsible for delivering bribes to lawmakers and their assistants on Lee’s behalf, and gave Chen NT$1 million, prosecutors said.
The Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Wanda-Zhonghe Line is 81.7 percent complete, with public opening targeted for the end of 2027, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said today. Surrounding roads are to be open to the public by the end of next year, Hou said during an inspection of construction progress. The 9.5km line, featuring nine underground stations and one depot, is expected to connect Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station to Chukuang Station in New Taipei City’s Jhonghe District (中和). All 18 tunnels for the line are complete, while the main structures of the stations and depot are mostly finished, he
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
Taipei is to implement widespread road closures around Taipei 101 on Friday to make way for large crowds during the Double Ten National Day celebration, the Taipei Department of Transportation said. A four-minute fireworks display is to be launched from the skyscraper, along with a performance by 500 drones flying in formation above the nearby Nanshan A21 site, starting at 10pm. Vehicle restrictions would occur in phases, they said. From 5pm to 9pm, inner lanes of Songshou Road between Taipei City Hall and Taipei 101 are to be closed, with only the outer lanes remaining open. Between 9pm and 9:40pm, the section is
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday hosted a reception to celebrate Double Ten National Day. Conservative Canadian lawmaker Marc Dalton called Taiwan a “beacon of courage and resilience in the face of rising authoritarianism,” according to a post on the Taiwan in Vancouver Facebook page. Also in attendance were fellow conservative caucus members Tako Van Popta and Chak Au, who said that Taiwan plays an “indispensable role” in ensuring global peace, prosperity and stability due to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, it said. Canadian lawmaker Michael Cooper also recorded a message wishing Taiwan a
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