Chen Hsueh-sheng Corruption Case: Prosecutors Summon Jin Xin Shipping Head Yang Su-yuan
Another corruption case has erupted in Taiwanese politics, with KMT legislator Chen Hsueh-sheng accused of fraudulently claiming assistants' allowances and of pressuring CPC Corporation on behalf of a shipping operator — bad news for public trust in both the governing and opposition parties.
- After questioning Chen Hsueh-sheng, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office released him on NT$2 million bail and barred him from leaving the country or putting to sea.
- Yang Su-yuan, the de facto head of Jin Xin Shipping, was summoned for questioning today; he is the father of former Kinmen County Magistrate Yang Cheng-wu.
- At the heart of the case is a suspected bribe paid to Chen Hsueh-sheng, after a Jin Xin tanker broke down, to press CPC Corporation into terminating the contract early.
- Investigators are simultaneously examining suspicions that Chen Hsueh-sheng used relatives and friends to fraudulently claim assistants' allowances and accepted benefits from contractors.
- The search operation was carried out along 35 separate lines of inquiry and 27 people were summoned for questioning, including Chen Hsueh-sheng's younger brother and sister and several of his assistants.
Outlook: Prosecutors will continue re-questioning those involved, and the case could widen further as they pursue the money trail and evidence of a quid pro quo.