Liu Xinzheng (left), a former Kaohsiung city councilor from the Kuomintang, received a bribe of 2.4 million yuan from a manufacturer. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and deprived of public rights for 6 years. The Supreme Court rejected his appeal.

(file photo)

[Reporter Wen Yude/Taipei Report] Liu Xinzheng, a former Kaohsiung city councilor from the Kuomintang, when he was the general manager of the public utility Hsinchu Gas Company, collected 240 yuan from manufacturers surnamed Guo seven times in a row in the male toilets of high-speed rail stations and high-speed rail compartments. A bribe of 100,000 yuan was used to help obtain multiple bids, but Liu denied the crime; the high court found that Liu’s crime was clear, and he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and deprived of public rights for 6 years in accordance with the crime of accepting bribes in violation of his duties in the Corruption Crimes Regulations , 2.4 million yuan of criminal proceeds was confiscated.

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal decision.

The prosecution accused Liu Xinzheng of serving as the general manager of Hsinchu Gas Co., Ltd. (a public enterprise funded and established by the Hsinchu County Government) from March 2012 to June 2014. He was allowed to leniently review and approve the company's winning of the bid, undertake the project, and cooperate with the planning and design. From October 16, 2012 to May 2, 2014, at the Hsinchu Station of the High Speed ​​Rail In toilets, high-speed rail compartments, high-speed rail Zuoying Station, etc., bribes totaling 2.4 million yuan were collected from Guo seven times.

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During the court hearing, Liu denied accepting bribes, arguing that Guo Nan's accusation of accepting bribes was not true, emphasizing that "I have never taken anything from Guo Nan", and that the person who came to him was a woman named Cai. I offered him something to express my gratitude, but he felt that it was not good and refused to accept it. In addition, the reason why I did not report it to the political office was because "I am too soft in life".

The Hsinchu District Court did not accept Liu Xinzheng's argument, and sentenced Liu to a combined 12-year prison term and eight-year deprivation of public rights on the grounds that it did not violate the crime of official bribery and concurrent punishment for several crimes. Liu refused to accept the appeal.

The High Court held that based on the testimonies of Guo Nan, the company’s accountant, and other materials, as well as the company’s handwritten account books and other materials, it can be proved that Liu Xinzheng’s acceptance of bribes is clear, and his seven bribery offenses are continuous actions, which should be counted as continuous crimes. The sentence was commuted to 12 years in prison, deprived of public rights for 6 years, and 2.4 million yuan of criminal income was confiscated.

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal decision.