TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Prosecutors recommended a 13-year prison sentence for Taipei City Councilor Angela Ying (應曉薇) on Thursday (Dec. 26) after accusing her of accepting NT$52.5 million in bribes from real estate developer Sheen Ching-jing (沈慶京). Authorities claim Ying attempted to flee the country amid ongoing litigation. They also suggested a fine of NT$30 million and a 10-year deprivation of public rights for Ying.
Sheen allegedly bribed Ying and her assistant, Wu Shun-min (吳順民), to ensure the Core Pacific Shopping Center (京華城購物中心) retained its 120,284.39 square meters of floor space. From 2017 to 2019, Sheen reportedly paid Ying NT$6 million and Wu NT$1.85 million. Ying and Wu then allegedly petitioned the Taipei City Government and pressured officials regarding the project.
In 2020 and 2021, Ying and Wu urged the Taipei City Government to send the case to the Urban Planning Commission (都市計畫委員會) for review. During this period, Sheen allegedly paid NT$45 million to Ying and NT$1,235,484 to Wu. From January to October 2022, the project passed urban planning reviews and entered the urban design and land use permit stage, with Sheen allegedly paying NT$1.5 million to Ying and NT$550,000 to Wu.
Prosecutors stated Ying and Wu received NT$52.5 million and NT$3,635,484, respectively, from Sheen. They have requested the court to confiscate or recover these amounts and seized several of Ying's properties to secure the recovery of illicit gains.
