Taking 8 million in bribes: Former Yuanli Mayor sentenced to 5 years 6 months and 6 years on two counts
Former Yuanli Township Mayor Liu Chiu-tung was sentenced in the first instance to 5.5 and 6 years in prison on two counts of corruption for accepting NT$8 million in bribes related to a columbarium construction project.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 16:14
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 16:31 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 15:36 (23h 4m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Kuan Jui-ping, Miaoli County, 22nd) Former Yuanli Township Mayor of Miaoli County, Liu Chiu-tung, is suspected of accepting bribes totaling NT$8 million on two occasions during his term regarding a columbarium project. The Miaoli District Court convicted him on two counts of corruption in the first instance, sentencing him to 5 years and 6 months, and 6 years in prison, both with deprivation of civil rights for 5 years. The case can be appealed.
The Miaoli District Court issued a judgment press release today stating that during Liu Chiu-tung's tenure as Yuanli Township Mayor from the end of 2018 to December 25, 2022, Jiu Jing Interior Decoration Industrial Co., Ltd. won the bid for the "Yuanli Township Qingpu Second Columbarium Basement and First Floor Ash (Bone) Cabinet Addition Project." To ensure smooth contract execution and payment, company owner Li Tsung-ho handed over NT$4 million in bribes to Liu Chiu-tung through Jiu Jing Group business representative Kuo Jung-hsin.
The judgment stated that Liu Chiu-tung knew such construction projects were profitable. Although he lost his re-election bid at the end of 2022, before stepping down, he approved the official document for the "Yuanli Township Qingpu Jingxin Hall Second Floor Ash Cabinet Addition Project." After Jiu Shun Xing Interior Decoration Co., Ltd. (a member of the Jiu Jing Group), owned by Li Tsung-ho, won the bid, Li Tsung-ho provided another NT$4 million. Kuo Jung-hsin then handed this directly to Liu Chiu-tung as a quid pro quo for winning the bid and smooth subsequent contract execution and payment.
In addition, Tsai Po-wei, the head of the architect firm handling the second-floor project, is suspected of leaking confidential information such as the dimensions and quantities of the proposed ash cabinets, giving Jiu Shun Xing Co. an unfair competitive advantage over other bidders.
During the court trial, Liu Chiu-tung admitted to accepting NT$4 million for the "first floor addition project," but argued that when he received the NT$4 million for the "second floor addition project," he had already stepped down as mayor and thus it did not constitute bribery. Li Tsung-ho and Kuo Jung-hsin both denied offering bribes. Based on the testimonies of co-defendants and communication records, the judge found the evidence of the crimes to be clear.
The judge considered that as mayor, Liu Chiu-tung accepted massive bribes from contractors twice, which not only damaged the integrity of the office but also destroyed public trust in the normal operations and execution of public duties, seriously endangering national legal interests, which is highly inappropriate.
The judge also weighed the fact that Liu Chiu-tung confessed to both crimes during the investigation and voluntarily surrendered all criminal proceeds. However, he maintained a guilty plea for the "first floor project," but changed his stance on the "second floor project," admitting only to receiving the money while denying the crime. Based on the Anti-Corruption Act's crime of accepting bribes without violating official duties, he was sentenced for 2 counts to 5 years and 6 months, and 6 years in prison respectively, with both carrying a 5-year deprivation of civil rights.
Regarding the other co-defendants, Li Tsung-ho and Kuo Jung-hsin committed the crime of offering bribes under the Anti-Corruption Act, both for 2 counts. Li Tsung-ho was sentenced to 10 months each, to serve 1 year and 4 months collectively, with deprivation of civil rights for 2 years. Kuo Jung-hsin was sentenced to 8 months for each count, to serve 1 year collectively, with deprivation of civil rights for 2 years. Tsai Po-wei committed the crime of delivering confidential information to benefit others under the Government Procurement Act and was sentenced to 6 months in prison, commutable to a fine calculated at NT$1,000 per day. The entire case can still be appealed. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150422
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(CNA Reporter Kuan Jui-ping, Miaoli County, 22nd) Former Yuanli Township Mayor of Miaoli County, Liu Chiu-tung, is suspected of accepting bribes totaling NT$8 million on two occasions during his term regarding a columbarium project. The Miaoli District Court convicted him on two counts of corruption in the first instance, sentencing him to 5 years and 6 months, and 6 years in prison, both with deprivation of civil rights for 5 years. The case can be appealed.
The Miaoli District Court issued a judgment press release today stating that during Liu Chiu-tung's tenure as Yuanli Township Mayor from the end of 2018 to December 25, 2022, Jiu Jing Interior Decoration Industrial Co., Ltd. won the bid for the "Yuanli Township Qingpu Second Columbarium Basement and First Floor Ash (Bone) Cabinet Addition Project." To ensure smooth contract execution and payment, company owner Li Tsung-ho handed over NT$4 million in bribes to Liu Chiu-tung through Jiu Jing Group business representative Kuo Jung-hsin.
The judgment stated that Liu Chiu-tung knew such construction projects were profitable. Although he lost his re-election bid at the end of 2022, before stepping down, he approved the official document for the "Yuanli Township Qingpu Jingxin Hall Second Floor Ash Cabinet Addition Project." After Jiu Shun Xing Interior Decoration Co., Ltd. (a member of the Jiu Jing Group), owned by Li Tsung-ho, won the bid, Li Tsung-ho provided another NT$4 million. Kuo Jung-hsin then handed this directly to Liu Chiu-tung as a quid pro quo for winning the bid and smooth subsequent contract execution and payment.
In addition, Tsai Po-wei, the head of the architect firm handling the second-floor project, is suspected of leaking confidential information such as the dimensions and quantities of the proposed ash cabinets, giving Jiu Shun Xing Co. an unfair competitive advantage over other bidders.
During the court trial, Liu Chiu-tung admitted to accepting NT$4 million for the "first floor addition project," but argued that when he received the NT$4 million for the "second floor addition project," he had already stepped down as mayor and thus it did not constitute bribery. Li Tsung-ho and Kuo Jung-hsin both denied offering bribes. Based on the testimonies of co-defendants and communication records, the judge found the evidence of the crimes to be clear.
The judge considered that as mayor, Liu Chiu-tung accepted massive bribes from contractors twice, which not only damaged the integrity of the office but also destroyed public trust in the normal operations and execution of public duties, seriously endangering national legal interests, which is highly inappropriate.
The judge also weighed the fact that Liu Chiu-tung confessed to both crimes during the investigation and voluntarily surrendered all criminal proceeds. However, he maintained a guilty plea for the "first floor project," but changed his stance on the "second floor project," admitting only to receiving the money while denying the crime. Based on the Anti-Corruption Act's crime of accepting bribes without violating official duties, he was sentenced for 2 counts to 5 years and 6 months, and 6 years in prison respectively, with both carrying a 5-year deprivation of civil rights.
Regarding the other co-defendants, Li Tsung-ho and Kuo Jung-hsin committed the crime of offering bribes under the Anti-Corruption Act, both for 2 counts. Li Tsung-ho was sentenced to 10 months each, to serve 1 year and 4 months collectively, with deprivation of civil rights for 2 years. Kuo Jung-hsin was sentenced to 8 months for each count, to serve 1 year collectively, with deprivation of civil rights for 2 years. Tsai Po-wei committed the crime of delivering confidential information to benefit others under the Government Procurement Act and was sentenced to 6 months in prison, commutable to a fine calculated at NT$1,000 per day. The entire case can still be appealed. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150422
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.