Former National Fire Agency (NFA) chief Huang Chi-min (黃季敏) was found guilty on seven corruption-related charges with a combined sentence of 55 years and eight months, although four other counts would be subject to a retrial, the Supreme Court said yesterday.
The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s April 2022 ruling, which found Huang guilty on seven charges — including bribery, money laundering and profiteering — and handed down a sentence of 55 years and eight months.
Citing factual ambiguities, insufficient reasoning and contradictions in the judgements, the Supreme Court vacated the High Court’s rulings on four other counts and remanded the cases to the lower court for retrial.
Photo: CNA
Huang’s total prison term would be determined by the Taiwan High Court, and he might begin serving the sentence before the court rules on a consolidated sentence and concludes the retrial on the four charges, the Supreme Court said.
Prosecutors have been notified to prevent Huang from fleeing the country.
Huang was indicted in 2012 and 2013 for pocketing NT$20.76 million (US$664,299) by rigging bids for disaster relief equipment procurement between 2002 and 2006, spanning much of his tenure as agency chief from 2003 to 2009.
A total of 20 other people were indicted in connection with the cases involving Huang.
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