TAOYUAN (TVBS News) — The Taiwan High Court (高等法院) on Wednesday (July 10) accepted an appeal from the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office (桃園地檢署) against the Taoyuan District Court's (桃園地方法院) decision to release former Taoyuan City (桃園市) Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) on bail in a corruption case involving NT$12 million.
On July 5, the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office summoned Cheng for questioning under the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例), Offenses of Money Laundering (洗錢罪), and Offenses of Disclosing Secret (刑法洩密罪). Prosecutors requested his detention, but the Taoyuan District Court ruled on July 6 that bail was sufficient, setting it at NT$5 million. Prosecutors immediately appealed the decision.
The Taiwan High Court found on July 8 that the lower court failed to explain why detention was unnecessary and did not address the potential risks of Cheng tampering with evidence or fleeing. The High Court sent the case back for reconsideration.
Later on July 9, the Taoyuan District Court held another hearing. Cheng denied the charges. The court acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but noted that prosecutors had not sufficiently demonstrated how Cheng concealed or laundered money. Additionally, they found no substantial evidence linking Cheng to the disclosure of secrets.
Prosecutors argued Cheng might influence witnesses and officials, but the court questioned his influence, given he left office over 18 months ago. The court again ruled for bail, raising it to NT$12 million. Prosecutors immediately appealed this decision as well.
The Taiwan High Court will now review the appeal. The outcome could impact the handling of high-profile corruption cases in Taiwan.
