The job court sentenced Zeng Pingshan to dismiss.

(File Photo) (Photographed by Reporter Wu Zhengfeng)

[Reporter Wu Zhengfeng/Taipei Report] The Board of Supervisors determined that Zeng Pingshan (retired in 2015), a former judge of the Tainan Higher Branch, was in office, knowing that the company owned by Weng Maozhong, the head of Jiahe Group, was involved in the "Bailey Case" and still dealing with him, violating the circumstances Seriously, impeachment was initiated, and the duty court of the disciplinary court found that some violations exceeded the punishment period, and the judgment was dismissed on the 18th; some violations were not subject to punishment.

The impeachment pointed out that from June 28, 1985 to January 12, 2015, Zeng Pingshan served successively as a judge of Tainan District Court, Kaohsiung High Branch Court and Tainan High Branch Court (retired on January 12, 2015), knowing that Weng Maozhong served as a judge. Yihua Company, the actual person in charge, was involved in the "Bailey Case" dispute, which was widely reported by the media in 1997 and would file a lawsuit. It still had improper contacts with Weng Maozhong.

Please read on...

The Supervisory Court determined that Zeng Pingshan and Weng Maozhong had a banquet; discussed the "Bailey Case" with Weng and provided legal advice; I, my family and friends accepted all kinds of help from Weng Maozhong; 1 bottle of liquid and 2 boxes of Siwu iron.

The behaviors have damaged the dignity and trust of ordinary people in the position of judges, and violated the relevant provisions of the Civil Service Law, Judges Law, Code of Practice for Judges, Judges’ Social Affairs and Financial Self-discipline, etc.

The duty court pointed out that Zeng Pingshan knew that Yihua was involved in the "Bailey Case" and still discussed the case with him and provided legal advice; because of his personal failure in investing in land, he negotiated with representatives of other investors through Weng Maozhong to help deal with the aftermath; he accepted gifts from Weng Maozhong for no reason , there is indeed a violation, but the old law applies to the time of the violation, and the time for punishment is 10 years. Zeng Pingshan’s last violation ended on June 27, 2011, and the Supervisory Council impeached him on March 11, 2022. Transfer, beyond the time limit for punishment, can only be dismissed by judgment.

For the non-punishment part, the job court stated that Zeng Pingshan and Weng Maozhong should not be restricted from freely communicating with each other on the grounds that the media reported the dispute between Yihua Company and Baili Bank, which may lead to lawsuits.

Before discussing the "Bailey case", their contacts were simply visits and chats, or they went to Kinmen to visit Zeng Pingshan's eldest son who was serving in the military, and introduced judges and colleagues to meet with Weng to ask him to help renew the lease of the store. Daily friendship or life affairs that belong to the private domain have nothing to do with the position or duties of judges, so it is difficult to recognize any violations.

To sum up, on the 18th, the duty court ruled that Zeng Pingshan was exempted from discussion for some of his actions and not punished for some of his actions. Both the Overwatch Council and Zeng Pingshan can appeal.

The case is heard by the First Division of the First Instance Court of the Professional Court. The collegial panel consists of Judge Huang Meiyue (Chief Judge of the Disciplinary Court), Associate Judge Cao Ruiqing (Judge of the Supreme Administrative Court), appointed Judge Lin Yingzhi (Judge of the Supreme Court), and adjudicators. Yang Tianwei (Dean of Songde Branch of Taipei United Hospital), Lin Mingxin (Professor of the School of Law, National Taiwan University).