Taipei Dome developer could face 24 years in prison, ex-President Ma faces probe
Farglory tycoon indicted in 5 cases, including Taipei Dome
By Matthew Strong,Taiwan News, Staff Writer
2017/10/31 14:13
Farglory Group chief Chao Teng-hsiung in July 1 appearance.
Farglory Group chief Chao Teng-hsiung in July 1 appearance. (By Central News Agency)
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Farglory Group (遠雄集團) Chairman Chao Teng-hsiung (趙藤雄), the developer of the Taipei Dome (大巨蛋), should spend 24 years in prison, prosecutors said Tuesday, indicting him in five separate cases, while former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will likely be investigated for his eventual role.
A Farglory spokesman said the company would cooperate with the Taipei District Court in clearing up the matter. Chao has been accused of involvement in various schemes, often involving the payment of bribes to government officials in return for construction contracts.
A total of 31 suspects were charged Tuesday, including Chao and two sons, former Finance Minister Lee Sush-der (李述德) for infractions allegedly committed while he headed Taipei City’s Department of Financial Affairs, New Taipei City councilor Chou Sheng-kao (周勝考) and former chief secretary of the Ministry of Interior’s Construction and Planning Agency Hung Chia-hung (洪嘉宏).
Lee, who served in the Taipei City Government when Ma was mayor, could face 10 years in prison for allegedly illegally favoring Farglory in the Taipei Dome deal. Prosecutors will investigate whether Ma was also aware of the practice and a suspect in similar illegal favors for the development group, reports said.
The Taipei Dome, a 40,000-seat stadium with a commercial complex, has been a major bone of contention between Farglory and the current Taipei City Government, headed by Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).
The other cases Chao was indicted for Tuesday include the illegal payment of high consulting fees by his construction company to benefit himself, the payment of bribes to government officials to win construction and repair contracts for several government projects.
The court was likely to decide later Tuesday whether there was still a need to keep the tycoon in detention, where he has been since July.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3286721