Emei Township Mayor, Former Zhudong Township Representative Chairman Sentenced in Second Instance for Corruption in Streetlight Procurement

(CNA Taipei, June 30) Former Zhudong Township Representative Chairman Chen Chang-ping and Emei Township Mayor Wang Tseng-chung, who were involved in allegedly favoring a company in the procurement of LED streetlights and receiving kickbacks, were sentenced in the second instance today. The appellate court overturned the original verdict but maintained the sentences for both individuals.

The first-instance ruling by the Hsinchu District Court stated that after a company learned of the Zhudong Township Office's need to replace LED streetlights in 2017, they asked Chen Chang-ping for assistance. The company subsequently won the bid and paid NT$2.4 million and NT$600,000 to Chen Chang-ping. In the Emei Township LED streetlight procurement case, the company asked Chen Chang-ping to convey their willingness to pay bribes to Township Mayor Wang Tseng-chung. After winning the bid, a total of NT$900,000 in bribes was paid to Chen Chang-ping and Wang Tseng-chung, who then divided the money.

The first instance sentenced Chen Chang-ping to 15 years in prison and Wang Tseng-chung to 12 years for crimes including accepting bribes in violation of official duties, and ordered the confiscation of the total illicit gains of NT$3.3 million. The case was appealed to the Taiwan High Court, which today overturned the original verdict and issued a new ruling.

According to the High Court's press release, Chen Chang-ping was sentenced to 15 years in prison and deprived of public rights for 8 years for crimes including accepting bribes without violating official duties under the Anti-Corruption Act. NT$3 million in illicit gains that were not seized were confiscated; NT$900,000 in illicit gains that were not seized and not distributed were confiscated jointly with Wang Tseng-chung. In addition, Wang Tseng-chung was sentenced to 12 years in prison and deprived of public rights for 8 years for jointly committing the crime of public officials accepting bribes in violation of official duties under the Anti-Corruption Act.

Regarding the reasons for overturning the original verdict, the High Court stated that Chen Chang-ping's involvement in the LED energy-saving streetlight replacement project and subsequent expansion project in Zhudong Township, Hsinchu County, constituted the crime of accepting bribes without violating official duties under the Anti-Corruption Act. Although the original verdict acknowledged that Chen Chang-ping did not violate his official duties, it stated in the facts section that he "failed to fulfill his duty as a township representative to supervise and review the budget" and approved the budget, which was an error in fact-finding.

Furthermore, Chen Chang-ping received an additional NT$600,000 in bribes for the Zhudong LED streetlight expansion project. The original verdict failed to declare the confiscation and recovery of these illicit gains, which was also inappropriate.

As for the Emei Township LED streetlight case, the High Court stated that although Chen Chang-ping held the status of a public official under the Criminal Code, he had no authority over budget allocation, procurement bidding, or evaluation in that case. Therefore, he should have been considered a constructive co-perpetrator of accepting bribes in violation of official duties. The original verdict's direct assertion that Chen Chang-ping and the defendant Wang Tseng-chung jointly violated official duties may be inconsistent. This case is appealable. (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) 1150630

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