TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Changhua prosecutors charged 14 people including local leaders with bribery and corruption relating to solar projects on Tuesday (Nov. 12).
The Changhua District Prosecutors Office said Zhutang Township Mayor Tsai Shuo-jen (蔡碩任), the township's Council Speaker Lin Shu-nu (林淑女), Lin’s husband Tsai Yue-yang (蔡岳陽), and others were charged. The group allegedly leaked information on solar contracts to bidders and fraudulently charged fees to Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), per UDN.
Prosecutors said Tsai Yue-yang, Lin, and green energy developers persuaded Tsai Shuo-jen to allow a solar project to be constructed at a public cemetery in 2021. Tsai Shuo-jen was allegedly offered NT$4,500 (US$138) each time the solar panels recorded peak power generation levels.
Tsai Shuo-jen allegedly leaked information to a developer who secured the contract for the project. The developer collected more than NT$420 million from Taipower’s purchase of energy generated by the solar panels, prosecutors said.
Tsai Yue-yang and Lin allegedly received NT$14.47 million and NT$6 million, respectively for facilitating the deal.
Prosecutors said Tsai Yue-yang also persuaded Tsai Shuo-jen to split a separate installation of rooftop solar panels into two bids in violation of the Government Procurement Act. The project allegedly benefited a developer surnamed Lee (李), who received NT$27.34 million from Taipower’s purchase of the power it generated.
Erlun Township Mayor Chung Tung-jung (鍾東榮) and the township's Council Speaker Yang Shih-pin (楊世彬) were also charged with corruption and bribery offenses relating to solar installations, prosecutors said. Chung allegedly hid NT$9.2 million in bribes from solar projects in his family’s ancestral shrine, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors recommended between eight and 12-year prison sentences for those charged.