The Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office on Saturday denied that investigators in Tainan covered up a probe into corruption allegations against ex-Cabinet spokesman Chen Tsung-yen (陳宗彥) in 2014, when he was serving as a local government official.
Office official Lin Hung-sung (林宏松) said a review of case records showed that the Tainan District Prosecutors’ Office acted appropriately when investigating Chen.
Prosecutors did not seek to cover up the case against Chen, which was closed in 2015 due to insufficient evidence, Lin said.
Chen resigned as Cabinet spokesman on Friday following media reports that he traded political favors for sex while serving as a public official in the Tainan City Government in 2012.
Following the reports, Taiwan People’s Party Legislator Chen Wan-hui (陳琬惠) released messaging records that purported to show Chen Tsung-yen promising to help hostess club operator Wang Hsiao-wei (王孝瑋) in his dealings with the local authorities.
Chen Wan-hui said that prosecutors in Tainan turned a blind eye to evidence of corruption while probing Chen Tsung-yen in 2014, after the evidence was revealed during an investigation into Wang.
The Ministry of Justice later on Friday said that it has instructed the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office to look into the matter.
Separately on Saturday, Vice President William Lai (賴清德), who was Tainan mayor in 2014, said although Chen Tsung-yen was a competent employee, honesty is essential to the job.
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), who approved Chen Tsung-yen’s resignation the previous day, said the justice ministry would deal with the case accordingly.
Chen Tsung-yen, who has denied the accusations, served in the Cabinet only for 18 days before his resignation on Friday.
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