High Court to resume trial of Hsinchu mayor in corruption case

Taipei, Feb. 8 (CNA) The Taiwan High Court will resume the trial of Hsinchu City Mayor Ann Kao Hung-an's (高虹安) on corruption charges after the Constitutional Court rejected its request to review the constitutionality of a law cited in the case Saturday.

Kao, currently suspended from her post as mayor, was found guilty in July 2024 by Taipei District Court of filing fraudulent expense claims to pay staff hired with public funds during her time as a legislator-at-large for the Taiwan People's Party from Feb. 1, 2020 to Dec. 25, 2022.

She was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison and had her civil rights suspended for four years in the first trial.

One of the laws cited in the district court's verdict was Article 32 of the Organic Law of the Legislative Yuan.

However, on Jan. 2, 2025, the High Court decided to seek the Constitutional Court's view on the law before proceeding with Kao's appeal, citing concerns that the article contravened the principle of clarity and definiteness of law, which could affect the results of the trial.

The Constitutional Court rejected the request on Saturday, saying that the law cited was not the applicable law in making a final judgment as to the defendant's guilt or innocence.