Former green energy official detained on corruption charges

Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) The Taipei District Court on Wednesday ordered a former Green Energy Industry Promotion Center (GEIPC) deputy executive director Cheng Yi-lin (鄭亦麟) detained incommunicado on suspicion of bribery.

Cheng is accused of taking bribes by using his position in the GEIPC, a state-run center under the supervision of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

He received illicit gains through relatives' and friends' accounts under the guise of consulting fees from two Taiwanese companies, Tungwei Construction and HDRE, prosecutors said.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office allege Cheng also used his position to "pressure" state-owned Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower).

Cheng's actions constituted violations of the Anti-Corruption Act, offenses of having property of unproven legal origin and the Money Laundering Control Act, prosecutors said.

Tungwei Construction founder Chen Chien-sheng (陳健盛) and his son Chen Kuan-tao (陳冠滔) were also ordered detained incommunicado in the same case.

On Monday, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office directed the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau (MJIB) Tainan City Field Division to carry out searches at 22 locations including homes, offices and the premises of the two implicated companies.

Nine defendants and five witnesses were questioned as part of the investigation, and documents from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and Taipower were also obtained.

After questioning, prosecutors said HDRE's general manager, identified by his surname Chou (周), was released on NT$1 million bail and restricted from leaving the country.

An accountant, also surnamed Cheng (鄭), was freed on NT$800,000 bail, while Cheng Yi-lin's parents were each released on NT$100,000 bail.

Another individual surnamed Hsu (徐) and a retired vice president of Taipower surnamed Hsiao (蕭) were released without bail.

Responding to the allegation that Cheng Yi-lin "pressured" Taipower, Taipower Chairman Tseng Wen-sheng (曾文生) told reporters he didn't understand the full nature of the case against him.

"'Pressure' is just a description word," Tseng said, adding that it would be better to let the judicial authorities clarify what this means.