|
Life term sought for
ex-NFA boss
FALL FROM GRACE: Huang Chi-min was seen as a
hero after Typhoon Morakot, but now faces bribery charge. Prosecutors say he has
not confessed or shown remorse
By Stacy Hsu / Staff writer, with CNA
The Taipei District Prosecutors¡¦ Office yesterday indicted and requested life
imprisonment for former National Fire Agency (NFA) director-general Huang
Chi-min (¶À©u±Ó), who was charged with receiving bribes from contractors in several
procurements for disaster-prevention equipment.
The graft case against Huang, who became something of a national hero after his
handling of rescue efforts during Typhoon Morakot, is expected to be referred to
the Taipei District Court today at the earliest.
Taipei District Prosecutors¡¦ Office spokesman Huang Mo-hsin (¶À¿Ñ«H) said the money
allocated for the procurement projects was earmarked for disaster prevention
equipment and was public money meant to save lives.
¡§However, Huang Chi-min received bribes amounting to NT$19.24 million
[US$660,500] for his own self-interest, and has shown no remorse or inclination
to confess to his wrongdoings, which is why the office decided to seek the most
severe punishment of a life sentence,¡¨ Huang Mo-hsin said.
Huang Chi-min, 60, who served as director-general of the agency between 2003 and
2009, is suspected of favoring certain contractors in nine procurement projects
for disaster-prevention communications systems in return for bribes.
Following a three-year investigation launched on the heels of Huang Chi-min¡¦s
retirement from the agency in 2009, about 160 investigators on Aug. 29 raided
his residence, his office at Formosa Plastics Corp (¥x¶ì) in Taipei ¡X where he
then served as a vice general manager before being suspended ¡X and 39 other
locations.
Huang Chi-min was also taken in for questioning on that day, along with more
than 20 others, including his wife and brother, Chen Su-hsia (³¯¯ÀÁø) and Huang
Wen-chou (¶À¤å©z), agency officials and contractors.
Prosecutors have held the 60-year-old incommunicado since Aug. 30 for fear of
possible collusion.
Also in detention are NFA Information Office director Tsai Mu-huo (½²¤ì¤õ) and Shih
Chien University associate professor Chin Li-peng (ª÷¤OÄP), who is suspected of
benefiting an unidentified contractor by rigging bids in exchange for a bribe of
NT$1 million.
Aside from the August raids ¡X which led to the discovery of 18 gold bars
weighing a total of 17kg and worth close to NT$23 million at Huang Chi-min¡¦s
residence and office ¡X prosecutors have conducted six other searches.
During a raid on Sept. 6, prosecutors seized an additional NT$900,000 in cash.
More valuables were discovered during a third search on Sept. 14, including two
gold bars weighing 1kg each, seven pieces of gold jewelry and NT$4 million in
cash, as well as ¢D6 million (US$70,700), US$40,000 and HK$180,000 (US$23,200) in
foreign banknotes.
Prosecutors have also seized NT$35 million that was wired from a domestic bank
account belonging to Huang Wen-chou to an overseas account in Singapore, which
was later transferred back to Taiwan.
Meanwhile, prosecutors are still looking into more allegations against Huang
Chi-min, including a NT$40 million investment in a Taipei-based cram school that
is suspected of being a front for money laundering, from which he receives an
annual bonus of about NT$1 million.
Allegations made by the Chinese-language Next Magazine that Huang Chi-min bought
his way from NFA deputy director-general to the head of the agency by giving a
NT$10 million bribe to the then-first lady Wu Shu-jen (§d²Q¬Ã) are also being
investigated.
|
