TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taichung District Court on Thursday ordered the detention of former DPP Chair Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁) for failing to pay NT$170 million (US$5.4 million) in damages owed to Taiwan Sugar.
Wu was convicted of breach of trust in connection with a 2004 land transaction during his tenure as Taiwan Sugar chair. Prosecutors said land in the Wufeng Industrial Park was sold below market value to Chunlong Development Corp. at the request of then-DPP lawmaker Hong Chi-chang (洪奇昌), per Knews.
While Hong was acquitted, Wu was convicted and served about eight months in prison.
Taiwan Sugar filed petitions with the Taichung District Court in late 2024 and early 2025 to enforce the debt obligation, per Storm Media. After Wu appeared before the court on Thursday, a judge ordered his detention over the unpaid damages.
The court cited four reasons for the decision, per Tai Sounds. First, although Taiwan Sugar has repeatedly sought enforcement of the debt, Wu has paid only a portion of the amount owed. Second, Taiwan Sugar submitted evidence indicating that Wu maintained a luxurious lifestyle, suggesting he may have had the means to repay the debt but chose not to.
Third, Wu repeatedly violated court orders, including requirements to disclose financial information, provide collateral, repay the debt, and appear for questioning. Finally, Wu no longer resides at the address he provided to the court. Wu said he now lives with his children because he requires care due to his age.
The court said Wu failed to fulfill his obligation to disclose assets that could be used to satisfy the debt. It added that although Wu expressed a willingness to negotiate, he provided neither evidence to assist the court's investigation nor a plan for repaying the debt.
Wu will be held at Taichung Detention Center while the court seeks to resolve the case, per UDN. Such detention is generally limited to three months, though the court may extend it for an additional three months if new grounds for detention emerge.
Wu was a leading figure in the DPP's New Tide faction. Then-Tainan Mayor Lai Ching-te (賴清德), a member of the faction, publicly vouched for Wu's innocence during Wu's trial, per UDN.
