The Taipei City Government has convened an ad hoc committee to consider halting the Core Pacific City (京華城購物中心) redevelopment project, as reports indicated that Taipei prosecutors would soon wrap up their corruption probe into the development and announce formal charges.
Headed by Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Ssu-chuan (李四川), the committee would assess the outcome of the probe and any charges filed before determining a course of action, including halting construction, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) told reporters yesterday.
The committee includes officials from the Taipei Department of Urban Development, Taipei Construction Management Office and other city agencies, including the departments of legal affairs and government ethics, along with experts and academics, Chiang said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
The investigation into the development of Core Pacific City, also known as Living Mall, in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山) started amid suspicion about the sharp increase in the floor area ratio (FAR) from 560 percent to 840 percent during Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je’s (柯文哲) tenure as mayor from 2014 to 2022.
Ko has been detained and held incommunicado without charge for more than 100 days as part of the probe.
He is among more than 20 people being investigated in relation to the development, including other city officials and Core Pacific Group (威京集團) founder and chairman Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京), who prosecutors said paid NT$47.4 million (US$1.45 million) in bribes to sway government officials to increase the FAR.
Taipei Department of Urban Development officials had said they would meet within two weeks of a formal indictment, and based on the investigation would rescind portions of the FAR and revoke the project’s permit.
Taipei City Councilor Miao Po-ya (苗博雅) of the Social Democratic Party said Chiang and his administration had been dragging their feet in responding to the probe.
“They should not wait for an indictment to decide to revoke the project’s construction permit,” she said.
The Control Yuan already conducted an investigation and determined that the project had contravened land use and development regulations stipulated under the Urban Planning Act (都市計畫法), she said.
“Chiang and city officials have been too slow and taken action too late,” Miao said, adding that although most people are aware of the accusations, Chiang was waiting on a formal indictment.
“Maybe he will say: ‘Let us wait until the appeals and the final verdict on the case,’ before the city government would conduct an investigation and take appropriate measures,” she said.
“Taipei residents would not accept such a delayed response from Chiang. He and the city government are clearly waiting to find excuses to protect corporations, to drag out the process to allow the project’s completion,” she added.
The Central Weather Administration at 5:30am today issued a land warning for Typhoon Bavi, which is expected to have its greatest impact on Taiwan from this evening through tomorrow. As of 8am, the eye of Bavi was about 700km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point, and was moving northwest at 25kph, the CWA said. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 162kph, with gusts of up to 198kph, the weather agency said, adding that Bavi had a storm radius of about 380km. Rainfall is expected to increase in mountainous areas of northern, central and southern Taiwan later today, with the heaviest
Taiwan tied for first with five golds at the 56th International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held in Colombia this year, showcasing high school physics prowess. The team, led by National Taiwan Normal University physics professor Chen Chuan-Ren (陳傳仁), was represented by five students, who were chosen from 2,361 students nationwide via multiple selections to receive pre-competition training. Competing with 381 participants from 91 countries, all five students won a gold medal for Taiwan. Other countries earning five golds included China, India, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Russia. One of the five Taiwanese, Chien Kuo High School (CKHS) student Wu Ssu-chien (吳思謙) said he has enjoyed studying
WIDESPREAD CANCELATIONS: Airline and ferry operators have canceled a number of journeys following the issue of a sea warning, with a land warning also expected today Airlines and ferry operators yesterday announced widespread service changes as Typhoon Bavi approaches Taiwan, with authorities urging travelers to monitor updates and avoid nonessential trips to outlying islands. The Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Bavi at 2:30pm yesterday and is expected to issue a land warning early today if the typhoon maintains its projected path and speed. AIR TRAVEL Starlux Airlines said flights scheduled from yesterday through Sunday could be rescheduled or canceled, and urged passengers to check the latest flight information before heading to the airport. Tigerair Taiwan said due to safety concerns, yesterday’s IT232 Taoyuan-Naha and IT289 Naha-Kaohsiung flights
Beijing has been offering subsidized trips to China’s Xinjiang region for Taiwanese teachers as part of efforts to influence teachers and, indirectly, students, a government official said yesterday. With China subsidizing the trips, the teachers only need to pay a NT$4,000 registration fee for an eight-day, seven-night tour that includes accommodation and meals, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Participants risk having their personal information collected and their social networks monitored by Chinese authorities, the official said. Chinese authorities are offering separate summer exchange programs targeting Taiwanese teachers and students, with the student program including study-related activities, they
RSS