Taichung: The Taichung branch of the Taiwan High Court has overturned a decision that granted NT$20 million (US$621,960) bail to Yu Ling-chung, the general manager of Central Union Oil Corp., and has sent the case back to the district court for further reconsideration. Yu is currently under investigation for his involvement in an edible oil contamination case that involves excessive levels of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene.

According to Focus Taiwan, the high court's press release indicates that Yu is suspected of violating the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation and falsifying business documents under the Criminal Code. Prosecutors had initially sought his detention due to concerns that he posed a flight risk and could potentially collude with others or tamper with evidence. Despite these concerns, the Taichung District Court had previously ruled that detention was unnecessary and granted Yu bail, along with residential restrictions and a travel ban for eight months.

The prosecutors appealed the district court's ruling, arguing that the restrictions imposed were not sufficient. The high court noted that the alleged offenses had a broad scope and significant impact on food safety, raising questions about whether bail would be adequate to prevent Yu from fleeing. The court pointed out that the district court had found Yu to have both a strong motive and the means to escape, yet failed to explain why detention was not justified based on the evidence presented by prosecutors.

As a result, the high court decided to send the case back to the district court for reconsideration, emphasizing the need for a more thorough explanation regarding the decision against detention. On July 9, authorities searched Central Union Oil Corp. and three other companies, seizing equipment and related evidence while questioning numerous suspects, including Central Union Chairman Tsai Ching-sung, Yu, and a plant manager, as well as several witnesses.