20100221 DPP candidate accuses mayor of bribery

DPP candidate accuses mayor of bribery

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY: Jhongli Mayor Ye Bu-liang hosted a ‘family dinner party’ with seats for about 800 yesterday that KMT officials and candidates attended

By Rich Chang
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Feb 21, 2010, Page 2

“[Councilors], the county’s township chiefs and representatives of local civic organizations attended the party with King and Chen, yet Ye calls this a ‘family occasion.’”— Huang Jen-chu, DPP candidate in Taoyuan County

Huang Jen-chu (黃仁杼), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate in the Taoyuan County legislative by-election, yesterday accused Jhongli Mayor Ye Bu-liang (葉步樑) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) of hosting a dinner to bribe voters on behalf of KMT ­candidate Apollo Chen (陳學聖).

Ye held a “family dinner party” yesterday to celebrate the Year of the Tiger and thank his family for their support. KMT Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) and Apollo Chen both attended.

The host prepared 80 tables for nearly 800 people.

Huang and a group of supporters protested outside the venue.

“Taoyuan County councilors, Jhongli City councilors, the county’s township chiefs and representatives of local civic organizations attended the party with King and Chen, yet Ye calls this a ‘family occasion,’” Huang told reporters outside.

“It is obviously bribery by the KMT. The party’s promises of reform are fake,” Huang said.

King came out of the venue to invite Huang to join the party.

“This party is not about the ­election. You and other local people are welcome to attend,” King said.

Ye told Huang that because he was finishing his term this year, he had expanded his annual family gathering to thank more people for their support, adding that he had covered all the expenses himself.

Although King and Ye repeated their invitation for Huang to join the party, he declined and said he would ask law enforcement officers to investigate.