Hualien council speaker Chang Chun cleared in LED procurement bribery case
Taiwan's Supreme Court has ended a long-running corruption case against Hualien County council speaker Chang Chun, confirming his acquittal — good news for him, a defeat for prosecutors.
- Chang was accused of taking a bribe from an LED lighting supplier in 2012 to help it win three township construction contracts.
- A lower court originally convicted him and handed down a prison sentence of more than seven years, plus loss of civil rights and seizure of the money.
- The appeals court threw that out after handwriting analysis found the signature on the key recommendation form did not match his own.
- Chang said his name had been forged, and that as a newly elected councilor he was advised to let the matter drop rather than fight it.
- The Supreme Court rejected the prosecution's appeal, making the acquittal final.
Outlook: The case is closed for Chang, but the separate question of seizing proceeds from the lighting company goes back to the high court for another round.