Detention centre holding Chen faces a graft storm of its own
Lawrence Chung in Taipei 17 April 2009
Taiwan’s top detention centre, where graft-tainted former president Chen Shui-bian is held, is grappling with claims of corruption.
Prosecutors led more than 130 investigators yesterday to search the Taipei Detention Centre after allegations that prison guards had accepted bribes in exchange for forbidden items the inmates wanted.
“So far we have questioned five guards, two brokers and eight family members of the inmates,” Cheng Hsin-hung, a spokesman for the Panchiao District Prosecutors’ Office, said.
The raid began in the morning, shortly after the former president was escorted to a district court in Taipei where he has been standing trial on charges of corruption.
Mr. Cheng said searched areas included the cells, workshops, and dormitory of prison staff, but no major illicit items had been found. He said prosecutors received information that some guards allegedly smuggled in banned goods for some inmates.
Quoting unnamed judicial sources, local media reports said some guards demanded “handling fees” ranging from NT$5,000 to NT$30,000 (HK$1,150 to HK$6,900) for smuggled items and messages. The reports said the fees for one carton of cigarettes and one bottle of liquor were NT$5,000 and NT$20,000, respectively. A pornographic magazine would cost NT$10,000.
Charges for delivering messages ranged from NT$20,000 to NT$30,000, depending on the importance of the messages.
Lee Ta-chu, spokesman for the centre, said it reported the illegal practices to the prosecutors office in October 2007 after it discovered the alleged activities.
Chen, who was charged with embezzlement, accepting bribes, money laundering and other offences, has been held at the detention centre since late December.
Asked whether any guards had delivered messages or smuggled illegal items for the former president, Mr. Cheng said no such acts had been committed.
Any guard convicted of accepting bribes would face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, he said.
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Detention centre holding Chen faces a graft storm of its own
Lawrence Chung in Taipei
17 April 2009
Taiwan’s top detention centre, where graft-tainted former president Chen Shui-bian is held, is grappling with claims of corruption.
Prosecutors led more than 130 investigators yesterday to search the Taipei Detention Centre after allegations that prison guards had accepted bribes in exchange for forbidden items the inmates wanted.
“So far we have questioned five guards, two brokers and eight family members of the inmates,” Cheng Hsin-hung, a spokesman for the Panchiao District Prosecutors’ Office, said.
The raid began in the morning, shortly after the former president was escorted to a district court in Taipei where he has been standing trial on charges of corruption.
Mr. Cheng said searched areas included the cells, workshops, and dormitory of prison staff, but no major illicit items had been found. He said prosecutors received information that some guards allegedly smuggled in banned goods for some inmates.
Quoting unnamed judicial sources, local media reports said some guards demanded “handling fees” ranging from NT$5,000 to NT$30,000 (HK$1,150 to HK$6,900) for smuggled items and messages. The reports said the fees for one carton of cigarettes and one bottle of liquor were NT$5,000 and NT$20,000, respectively. A pornographic magazine would cost NT$10,000.
Charges for delivering messages ranged from NT$20,000 to NT$30,000, depending on the importance of the messages.
Lee Ta-chu, spokesman for the centre, said it reported the illegal practices to the prosecutors office in October 2007 after it discovered the alleged activities.
Chen, who was charged with embezzlement, accepting bribes, money laundering and other offences, has been held at the detention centre since late December.
Asked whether any guards had delivered messages or smuggled illegal items for the former president, Mr. Cheng said no such acts had been committed.
Any guard convicted of accepting bribes would face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, he said.
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