Taipei: The Taipei District Court on Wednesday ordered a former Green Energy Industry Promotion Center (GEIPC) deputy executive director, Cheng Yi-lin, detained incommunicado on suspicion of bribery. Cheng is accused of leveraging his position in the GEIPC, a state-run center under the supervision of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), to receive illicit gains.
According to Focus Taiwan, Cheng allegedly funneled bribes through relatives' and friends' accounts disguised as consulting fees from two Taiwanese companies, Tungwei Construction and HDRE. Prosecutors also allege that Cheng exploited his role to "pressure" state-owned Taiwan Power Co. (Taipower). His actions are said to constitute violations of the Anti-Corruption Act, offenses involving property of unproven legal origin, and the Money Laundering Control Act.
In the same case, Tungwei Construction founder Chen Chien-sheng and his son Chen Kuan-tao were also ordered detained incommunicado. On Monday, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office directed the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau (MJIB) Tainan City Field Division to conduct searches at 22 locations, including homes, offices, and the premises of the two implicated companies.
As part of the investigation, nine defendants and five witnesses were questioned, with documents from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and Taipower obtained. After questioning, HDRE's general manager, identified by his surname Chou, was released on NT$1 million bail and restricted from leaving the country. An accountant, also surnamed Cheng, was freed on NT$800,000 bail, while Cheng Yi-lin's parents were each released on NT$100,000 bail. Another individual surnamed Hsu and a retired vice president of Taipower surnamed Hsiao were released without bail.
Responding to allegations that Cheng Yi-lin "pressured" Taipower, Taipower Chairman Tseng Wen-sheng expressed uncertainty about the full nature of the case. "'Pressure' is just a description word," Tseng remarked, suggesting that it would be prudent to allow judicial authorities to clarify the matter.