Sanxing Township Head Sentenced to 12 Years for Bribery, Facing Immediate Suspension

The Yilan District Court today sentenced Sanxing Township Head Li Zhi-yong to 12 years in prison and deprived him of public rights for 3 years on bribery charges. Li was accused of rigging a contract for a 'Flower Sea' event in late 2019, demanding a TWD 200,000 kickback from a contractor out of a TWD 600,000 budget. The judge noted that Li, as township head, had the authority to oversee procurement and violated public trust by soliciting bribes. According to the Local Government Act, a township head sentenced for corruption in the first instance must be suspended from duty. The Yilan County Government stated that it will appoint an acting head after receiving the formal judgment. Li stated in a phone interview that he intends to appeal the decision.