Bidding Farewell to a 40-Year Prosecutorial Career, Hsing Tai-chao Proposes Judicial Reforms

After concluding a 40-year career as a prosecutor, former Prosecutor General Hsing Tai-chao accepted an interview with CNA. He believes that judicial independence must transcend political parties and suggests establishing an independent personnel committee to decide on the appointment, removal, and transfer of prosecutors, as well as the selection of heads of offices, to align with judicial independence and democratic politics. The 67-year-old Hsing is a graduate of the 24th class of the Judicial Officials Training Institute, holds a bachelor's degree in law from National Chung Hsing University and a master's degree from Chinese Culture University. He has served as Chief Prosecutor of the Yunlin, Pingtung, and Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Offices, Chief Prosecutor of the Kinmen and Hualien High Branch Prosecutors Offices, Political Deputy Minister of Justice, Chief Prosecutor of the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, and Chief Prosecutor of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office. During his tenure as Chief Prosecutor of the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office, he achieved the top record in the country for investigating election bribery. As Chief Prosecutor of the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, he oversaw cases such as the Lealea case, the Taipei Dome corruption case, the private cigarette smuggling case, and the Sanchung case involving former President Ma Ying-jeou, earning him the reputation of an "investigative chief prosecutor." In 2022, Hsing took first place in the Prosecutor General recommendation vote held by the Prosecutors Association. That same year, he was nominated by then-President Tsai Ing-wen and confirmed by the Legislative Yuan to serve as Prosecutor General, completing his term on May 7 this year. After stepping down, Hsing expressed his views on prosecutorial reform more clearly. He questioned the purpose of the Prosecutor General position if it lacks personnel and budget authority, despite being tasked with supervising all prosecutorial agencies. He noted that the budget for the Supreme Prosecutors Office is equivalent to that of the Taitung District Prosecutors Office and, due to cuts by the Legislative Yuan, is even lower than that of the Penghu District Prosecutors Office. Hsing further stated that since the Prosecutor General is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Legislative Yuan, they should have corresponding discretionary and advisory powers in personnel and budget matters. He also suggested institutionalizing the recommendation vote for Prosecutor General and incorporating it into the Organic Act of the Courts. Hsing believes that while the Minister of Justice, as a political appointee, should have personnel power, the Prosecutor General should also have corresponding powers, such as the right to make recommendations, to complete the system of checks and balances. He cited European countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, which have established independent judicial personnel committees through constitutional or legislative amendments to decide on prosecutorial appointments and transfers, emphasizing that transparency and openness are essential.