Chen Yizhong, president of Tainan High School Branch, and wealthy businessman Weng Maozhong (see photo) had 16 dinners and 8 gifts, and were sent to be punished by the Supervisory Yuan. The disciplinary court has exceeded the 10-year penalty statute of limitations of the old law for Chen’s violations. Judgment waived.

(file photo)

[Reporter Yang Guowen/Taipei Report] During his tenure, Chen Yizhong, the former president of the Tainan High School Branch, was accused of knowing that the wealthy businessman Weng Maozhong was a party involved in the lawsuit. Damaged the image of the judge's independence, impartiality, and integrity, the impeachment was unanimously passed, and he was transferred to the disciplinary court for trial.

However, although the disciplinary court found that Chen Yizhong's actions were inconsistent with the judge's duties, and there were obviously major violations, according to the old civil servant disciplinary law, Chen's behavior has exceeded the 10-year disciplinary statute of limitations, and today's judgment is dismissed; Appealable.

The Supervisory Yuan pointed out that Chen Yizhong has served as a judge of the Tainan Higher Branch Court since 1994, and Weng Maozhong is a well-known businessman in Tainan. During the more than 10 years from 1998 to 2014, Weng and his related companies had several major and high-profile cases that were being tried by the court one after another. Chen Yizhong should be aware of this.

Please read on...

However, the investigation found that from 2003 to 2011, Chen Yizhong still had meals and meetings with Weng Maozhong as many as 16 times from 2003 to 2011, that is, when Chen served as the judge and president of the Tainan Higher Branch, knowing that Weng Maozhong and his related companies were the parties involved in the lawsuit. He also received shirts and skin care products from Weng 8 times; during this period, Chen went to meet Weng with a lawyer appointed by Weng Maozhong or its affiliated company in April 2004, and also met with the appointed lawyer and Weng in May of the same year And so on.

The Control Yuan determined that Chen was a judge and chief judge of the Tainan Higher Branch, and Weng Maozhong's high-profile lawsuit had been reported in the media. It is impossible for Chen to be unaware. Therefore, Chen committed a major violation and seriously damaged the independence that judges should maintain. , impartiality, neutrality, cleanliness, integrity image and the dignity and trust of the judge's position.

The disciplinary court determined that what Chen Yizhong had done constituted a major violation. However, the period of Chen’s violation occurred before the new system of the Judge Law, that is to say, the “10-year disciplinary limitation period” stipulated in Article 25 of the old Law on Disciplining Officials was applicable. June 7, 2021 is the deadline for the 10-year statute of limitations, and the Overwatch Council did not transfer it to the disciplinary court until August 8, 2022, which has exceeded the "10-year statute of limitations" requirement, so it can only make a judgment of dismissal.

There is also an appeal.