《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Prosecutors search Legislative Yuan

KICKBACKS PROBE: The probe into IT procurement contracts is motivated by bad blood between President Ma Ying-jeou and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, critics said

By Jason Pan and Alison Hsiao / Staff reporters

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Prosecutors yesterday conducted searches at executive offices of the Legislative Yuan and detained Legislative Yuan Secretary-General Lin Hsi-shan （林錫山） for questioning as part of an operation by the judiciary to investigate alleged corruption.

The prosecutors seized documents and gathered evidence at 19 locations, while taking in 33 people for questioning.

The investigation is focused on procurement contracts for computer software and hardware, networking system security and telecommunications equipment provided by Far Net Technologies Co （網遠科技）, which won a series of public tenders over the past few years.

Including setting up online documentation and information services, as well as an Internet service platform, and providing network security upgrades, Far Net Technologies received close to NT$300 million （US$8.87 million） for the procurement contracts.

Prosecutors reportedly received tip-offs that alleged Lin and Information Technology Department staff members had collectively received up to NT$3 million in kickbacks from Far Net Technologies.

Lin is a trusted aide to Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-Pyng （王金平）.

When Wang assumed the speakership in 1999, he promoted Lin to secretary-general, and both have remained in the positions for the past 17 years.

Prior to that, Lin served three terms as a Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） legislator from 1990 to 1999, elected from his native Changhua County.

Judicial investigators yesterday also searched Lin’s home in Changhua and Far Net Technologies’ headquarters in Hsinchu City, along with offices and residences in Taipei, New Taipei City, Hsinchu County and Changhua of suspects and witnesses associated with the procurement deals.

Prosecutors left the legislature with boxes of documents and several computers after a search that lasted about four hours, and they took one official with them to the prosecutors’ office to assist in the investigation.

Lin, who was not present during the morning raids, was picked up by investigators later in the day and as of press time last night was still being questioned.

Wang said Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office lead prosecutor Tsai Pi-yu （蔡碧玉） telephoned him twice about the search beforehand, but did not disclose what the investigation was about.

Wang, who tops the KMT’s list of legislators-at-large, denied a rumor that he is to resign from the speakership.

Media personality Clara Chou （周玉蔻） said that the search signaled the beginning of the third round of a political feud between President Ma Ying-jeou （馬英九） and Wang.

“Is the search of Lin Hsi-shan a move to force Wang out?” she asked.

Presidential Office Secretary-General “Tseng Yung-chuan （曾永權） could be added to the KMT’s list of legislators-at-large-elect if Wang resigns. Is that not a bit too much of a coincidence?” Chou said.

“Maybe Wang should just take his men with him and leave the KMT,” she added.

KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei （羅淑蕾） said the timing was “too sensitive, when within a few days [of the presidential and legislative elections] there are calls demanding Wang’s resignation.”

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Shu-fen （林淑芬） said that “while corruption definitely should be investigated, [the probe] should not be wielded as a tool in a political feud, for which the case was ‘fed and kept’ until this moment.”

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES