The Shilin District Court yesterday sentenced Taipei City Councilor Chen E-jun (陳怡君) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to seven years and 10 months in prison for embezzling assistant fees and accepting bribes.
Chang Hui-lin (張惠霖), the head of Chen’s office, was also sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison.
Chen’s civil rights have been suspended for five years, while Chang’s were suspended for four years.
Photo: Taipei Times
The two defendants in July last year pleaded guilty to charges that they improperly claimed NT$3.84 million (US$121,404) in subsidies since the city councilor took office in late 2018.
The Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office said that they listed three family members or friends as Chen’s assistants, even though they did not actually work for her.
The two were also accused of taking bribes of more than NT$700,000 from two developers to expedite permits for construction or development projects from August 2023 to February last year.
The sentences can be appealed.
Chen yesterday did not appear in court to hear the verdict.
In response to media queries, she said she respects the judiciary and would discuss the matter with her lawyer after receiving the ruling.
DPP anti-corruption committee head Chiou Jiunn-yann (邱駿彥) yesterday said that the committee is to handle the case on Feb. 4.
The lightest penalty would be a suspension of rights, and the most severe would be expulsion from the party, he said, adding that even if Chen is absent, the decision would not be postponed.
Additional reporting by Ho Yu-hua and Chen Yun
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