The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has opened an investigation into allegations that former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) might have been involved irregularities in construction methods and tender specifications for the demolition of the Zhongxiao Bridge (忠孝橋) ramp, people familiar with the matter said.
The Agency Against Corruption, which is investigating the case, summoned a key witness for questioning last week under the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例), sources said.
Ko might have helped contractor Hwang Chang General Contractor Co (皇昌營造) benefit by more than NT$100 million (US$3.16 million), political pundit Lee Cheng-hao (李正皓) wrote on Facebook.
Photo: Taipei Times
The investigation is focused on Hwang Chang, and whether Ko is involved in the case remains unclear, as further investigation is needed, sources said.
In 2019, the Control Yuan raised concerns over potential irregularities in the demolition of the Zhongxiao Bridge ramp and conducted an investigation.
In a report responding to the Control Yuan, the Taipei Public Works Department said the project was carried out in six sections that were closed simultaneously.
Sections one, three and four were to involve cutting methods such as circular saws and chainsaws, while sections two, five and six used conventional demolition techniques, the department said.
Not all sections were carried out using cutting methods, with unit-by-unit cutting employed near the Beimen (北門) historic site, it said, adding that breakage observed at the site was part of normal construction processes.
The tender allowed contractors to propose alternative plans, it said.
Huang Chang’s proposal was deemed better than the original and approved accordingly, the department said, adding that additional costs were absorbed by the contractor.
The project was completed in six days, shorter than the original eight-day schedule, it said, adding that no damage to nearby historic sites or transportation infrastructure was reported.
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