High court overturns bail for company executive in tainted oil case

Taipei, July 16 (CNA) The Taichung branch of the Taiwan High Court on Thursday overturned a decision granting NT$20 million (US$621,960) bail to the general manager of Central Union Oil Corp. and sent the case back to the district court for reconsideration.

General Manager Yu Ling-chung (余凌冲) is under investigation in connection with an edible oil contamination case involving excessive levels of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene.

In a news release, the high court said Yu is suspected of violating the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation and falsifying business documents under the Criminal Code.

Prosecutors had sought his detention, arguing that he posed a flight risk and could collude with others or tamper with evidence.

Last week, however, the Taichung District Court ruled that detention was unnecessary and granted Yu bail of NT$20 million.

Yu was also placed under residential restrictions, barred from leaving Taiwan by air or sea for eight months, and ordered to report regularly to police.

Prosecutors appealed the ruling, arguing that the restrictions were insufficient.

The high court said Thursday that the alleged offenses were broad in scope and had a significant impact on food safety.

It also questioned whether bail would be sufficient to prevent Yu from fleeing, noting that the district court had found that he had both a strong motive and the means to do so.

The high court said prosecutors had also presented specific reasons and evidence indicating that Yu could collude with others or destroy or alter evidence.

However, the district court failed to adequately explain why the evidence was insufficient to justify detention, the high court said.

The case was therefore sent back to the district court for reconsideration.

On July 9, prosecutors and police searched Central Union Oil Corp. and three other companies, seizing equipment and related evidence.

They also questioned 11 suspects, including Central Union Chairman Tsai Ching-sung (蔡清松), Yu and a plant manager surnamed Chen (陳), as well as 13 witnesses.