TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taoyuan District Court rejected an appeal by former Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) to be released from jail on Friday (July 12), after he was ordered to be detained without visitation rights for two months.
After Cheng was jailed on Thursday, he filed a protest with the court on the grounds that he was being unjustly detained. According to a bulletin from the Taiwan High Court, Cheng’s protest was dismissed because there is substantial evidence implicating him in the crimes being charged, and recent events show there is a high risk that Cheng will seek to collude with other parties involved in the case to obstruct proceedings or tamper with evidence.
The Taiwan High Court noted that before his initial interrogation, Cheng’s communications with his personal assistant proved that he was already aware of the charges being brought against him and the evidence that had been obtained by Taoyuan prosecutors. This demonstrates that Cheng’s substantial connections and influence within Taoyuan’s local government are a liability in pursuing the case, and is ample grounds for the court to limit his movements and communications.
Cheng was initially arrested on July 5 on charges of corruption dating back to his time in office as the mayor of Taoyuan. Although he was originally granted bail of NT$5 million (US$154,057) by the Taoyuan District Court and released, the decision was overturned by the Taiwan High Court on Monday (July 8).
At his second bail hearing, Cheng was granted release with an increased bail of NT$12 million, only for the Taiwan High Court to overturn the second bail decision two days later on Wednesday (July 10). He is charged with accepting bribes in violation of his oaths as a public official.
The court’s announcement rejecting Cheng’s release also reveals several new details of the case against him, namely that a handbag containing NT$5 million in cash was dropped at his residence at some time during his time as mayor. The money was delivered by a person surnamed Liao (廖), and prosecutors allege that Cheng’s behavior after receiving the cash is suspect, as the sum was never reported to appropriate authorities, but was instead held by Cheng for approximately six months before he returned it to Liao.
The money and actions of both Liao and Cheng are still being investigated by prosecutors, who suspect the funds were part of a bribery scheme, as a down payment or security fee, potentially related to a property development deal.
