Social:Taipei Twin Towers corruption scandal

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Taipei Twin Towers corruption scandal
Date2013–
LocationZhongxiao West Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan
ParticipantsLai Su-ju, Cheng Hung-tao, Chia Er-ching, Chen Chuang-liang, Chiu Ta-chan, Peng Hung-ming, Peng Ya, and others
Outcome
  • Several elected officials and government officials were indicted and convicted on corruption-related charges. * Resignations of implicated officials.

The Taipei Twin Towers corruption scandal was a corruption case involving the Taipei Twin Towers development project. In 2013, then KMT Taipei City councilor [zh; zh; 臺北市議員列表] and director of President Ma Ying-jeou's office, Lai Su-ju [zh; zh; 賴素如], together with several other elected representatives and Taipei City Government officials, was accused of soliciting bribes related to the project. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted them on corruption charges. Lai was ultimately sentenced to seven years and six months in prison, deprived of civil rights for four years, and ordered to forfeit NT$1 million in illicit gains.[1]

Following the scandal, then Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-pin decided to cancel the tender for the Taipei Twin Towers project and planned to have the Department of Rapid Transit Systems undertake the construction itself. Subsequently, Mayor Ko Wen-je reopened the bidding process while continuing to investigate the case. The project was eventually awarded to a consortium led by CLEVO Co. and the HongWell Group, with construction beginning in 2022 and completion expected in 2027 at the earliest.[2][3]

Overview

The Taipei Twin Towers project, associated with the Taoyuan Airport MRT, was one of the major infrastructure projects initiated during the administration of Hau Lung-pin, Mayor of Taipei, and ranked first among his "Top Ten Construction Projects".Together with the redevelopment of Taipei Songshan Airport, it was referred to as Taipei's "Twin Gateways".[4][5]

After five failed tenders, the project was awarded to Tai Chi Twin Star Corporation on 28 October 2012. On the day the bid security deposit was due, the Taipei City Government unusually extended the deadline from 5 p.m. to midnight. Officials announced that they had received a faxed remittance slip from Tai Chi Twin Star, but it was later discovered that the payment was unfunded. The incident raised doubts about the company's qualifications and prompted allegations that officials and members of the selection committee had favored the bidder.[6][7]

In mid-February 2013, Chen Chuang-liang, Director of the Department of Rapid Transit Systems resigned over the controversy, and his resignation was approved by Hau Lung-pin.

In March, Taipei City councilor [zh; zh; 臺北市議員列表]Chung Hsiao-ping [zh; zh; 鍾小平] reported Finance Bureau Director Chiu Ta-chan and Chen to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, alleging that they had improperly benefited contractors involved in the project. Prosecutors subsequently searched the Taipei City Government Finance Bureau, Lai Su-ju's law office, and her city council office. The Taipei District Court ordered Lai Su-ju and Cheng Hung-tao detained incommunicado.

In April, the Taipei City Investigation Division of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau questioned former Rapid Transit Systems Department Director Chen Chuang-liang as a criminal suspect. Media reports later revealed that Tai Chi Twin Star was effectively a shell company that had falsely claimed investment from Malaysia's Ipoh Garden Berhad and Japan's Mori Group (unrelated to Mori Building Company). A number of former and current Taipei officials were subsequently implicated in the case.[8][7]

On 25 July 2013, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office determined that Lai Su-ju had accepted NT$1 million in bribes and indicted her and three others on corruption charges. In October 2014, the Taipei District Court sentenced Lai to ten years' imprisonment for bribery. On 31 August 2016, the Taiwan High Court reduced the sentence to nine years and revoked her civil rights for nine years. In January 2018, the Supreme Court overturned the second-instance ruling and remanded the case for retrial.[9]

In April 2020, the Taiwan High Court, in its retrial, sentenced Lai to seven years and six months in prison, deprived her of civil rights for four years, and ordered the confiscation of NT$1 million in illegal gains, subject to appeal.[10]In December 2020, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, making the judgment final.[11]

Details

On 27 March 2013, prosecutors alleged that Lai Su-ju [zh; zh; 賴素如] had demanded NT$15 million in bribes from a bidder involved in the Taipei Twin Towers project, claiming that NT$5 million of the amount was intended to bribe fellow KMT councilors. She was alleged to have already received NT$1 million, prompting prosecutors to seek her detention.[12][13]

Unaware that the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau had been wiretapping her for an extended period and had employed paparazzi-style surveillance to photograph her meetings with contractors, Lai initially denied all allegations. After prosecutors presented evidence, she claimed that she had returned the NT$1 million. Legal experts, however, argued that once an agreement to accept money in exchange for official action had been reached, the crime of agreeing to accept a bribe under the Anti-Corruption Act had already been completed, regardless of whether the money was later returned, and that the offense carried a minimum sentence of seven years' imprisonment.[14]

On 28 March, Lai, through her lawyer, announced that she was resigning from all party positions.[15]

On 29 March, the Taipei District Court granted Lai bail of NT$1.2 million and restricted her residence.[16][17][18] On the same day, President and KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou, after attending a ceremony commemorating revolutionary martyrs, stated that he was shocked by the allegations against Lai and that the KMT needed to undertake serious self-reflection and reforms. He also issued a statement expressing his shock and regret and apologized to party members and the public.[19]

Later that evening, the Taiwan High Court overturned the bail ruling and remanded the case to the Taipei District Court.[20]

At 10:00 a.m. on 30 March, the Taipei District Court convened another detention hearing.[21][22][23]At 6:00 p.m., the court ordered Lai Su-ju detained incommunicado and transferred her to the Tucheng Women's Detention Center, where she was assigned inmate number 0224.[24][25][26][27][28]

On 1 April, the KMT suspended Lai's party membership.[29]

On 2 April, the Taiwan High Court rejected Lai's appeal against her detention.[30]

On 4 April, investigators discovered through wiretaps that Cheng Hung-tao, a principal investor in Tai Chi Twin Star, and his business partner Chia Er-ching had referred to Lai Su-ju by the codename "Little Flower" while discussing bribery. Each "flower" represented NT$1 million, and intercepted conversations revealed that "the eldest lady" (referring to Lai) had demanded "ten flowers".

On 25 July, prosecutors concluded their investigation and determined that Lai had accepted NT$1 million in bribes. She was indicted on charges of accepting bribes in connection with official duties, concealing proceeds of corruption, and possessing unexplained assets. Prosecutors sought a heavy sentence. Lai maintained that the money was a lawful political donation and pleaded not guilty.

On 26 July, the case was transferred to the Taipei District Court. Following a random assignment to a judicial panel, a detention hearing was held immediately. At 7:15 p.m., the panel ruled that the charge of accepting bribes in connection with official duties under Article 5, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 3 of the Anti-Corruption Act carried a minimum sentence of five years' imprisonment. Given discrepancies between Lai's statements and those of co-defendant Peng ○-ming and witness Peng ○-ya, the court found reason to believe she might collude with witnesses. Accordingly, it ordered her detention and prohibited visits and communications pursuant to Article 101, Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs 2 and 3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

On 23 August, the Taipei District Court granted Lai bail of NT$15 million and imposed restrictions on her residence, overseas travel, and sea travel.[31]

On 31 October 2014, the Taipei District Court handed down its first-instance verdict. Finding that Lai Su-ju had solicited NT$15 million in bribes, accepted an advance payment of NT$1 million, and used her authority as a Taipei City Council councilor to shield the Tai Chi Twin Star consortium and eliminate competitors, the court sentenced her to ten years' imprisonment and deprivation of civil rights (disfranchisement) for five years. Former Taipei Finance Bureau Director Chiu Ta-chan, who had been indicted in the same case, was acquitted.[32]

On 18 February 2016, the Taiwan High Court upheld Chiu Ta-chan's acquittal, making it final.

On 31 August 2016, the Taiwan High Court sentenced Lai to nine years in prison and deprived her of civil rights for nine years for accepting bribes in connection with official duties.

In January 2018, the Supreme Court overturned the second-instance ruling and remanded the case for retrial.

In April 2020, the Taiwan High Court, in its retrial, sentenced Lai to seven years and six months in prison, deprived her of civil rights for four years, and ordered the confiscation of NT$1 million in illicit gains. In December 2020, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, making the verdict final.

Impact

As a result of the case, Lai Su-ju was handcuffed and transported by prison vehicle to the Tucheng Women's Detention Center, where she was assigned inmate number 0224. Cheng Hung-tao was also detained incommunicado.

Meanwhile, Chen Chuang-liang and Chiu Ta-chan stepped down from their posts. Chiu was indicted for breach of trust and later became chairman of EasyCard Corporation. He was acquitted in 2016.[33]

The Taipei Twin Towers scandal was regarded as another major blow to the clean-government image promoted by the Presidency of Ma Ying-jeou, following the Lin Yi-shih bribery scandal. At the time, internet users circulated satirical images mocking the KMT government with the phrase, "Su-ju in the north, Chao-ching in the center, Yi-shih in the south, Po-yuan in the west, and Li-chen in the east".[1].[34]

In 2020, journalist Chen Chia-hung recalled both the Lin Yi-shih and Lai Su-ju scandals as marking the beginning of the Ma administration's loss of public support, comparing them to the Kaohsiung MRT foreign workers scandal during the Chen Shui-bian administration [zh; zh; 陳水扁政府].[35]

During the investigation, Lai's defense attorneys were denied access to case files and subsequently petitioned for a constitutional interpretation. In 2016, the Constitutional Court issued Interpretation No. 737, ruling that denying defense counsel access to investigation files was unconstitutional. In 2017, the Legislative Yuan amended the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow defendants and their attorneys to review investigation files unless otherwise restricted by the courts. Because the amendment originated from Lai's constitutional petition, it became colloquially known as the "Lai Su-ju Clause".[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "「賴素如條款」三讀通過　遭羈押被告律師有閱卷權" (in zh-Hant-TW). https://www.upmedia.mg/tw/focus/none/15782. 
  2. ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2016-02-26). "多次流標還爆弊案 雙子星命運多舛" (in zh-TW). 自由時報電子報. https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/961998. 
  3. ↑ "〈台北雙子星開發案〉藍天宏匯：預計最快2026年完工" (in zh-TW). Anue鉅亨. 2019-10-18. https://news.cnyes.com/news/id/4397991. 
  4. ↑ "師法蔣經國 郝龍斌提台北新十大建設" (in zh-Hant). https://e-info.org.tw/node/82949. 
  5. ↑ "雙子星+松機開發案 雙國門成型" (in zh-TW). 中時樂活. http://news.chinatimes.com/LifeContent/1409/20121218000391.html. 
  6. ↑ "黃珊珊台大同學 買空賣空擊退大企業". https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/paper/1356432. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "議員質疑︰前捷運首長 球員兼裁判". https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/629260. 
  8. ↑ "製造外國財團合作假象∕太極雙星設局 郝赴日會森集團總裁". http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2013/new/apr/11/today-p4.htm. 
  9. ↑ 聯合新聞網. "雙子星案 賴素如收賄罪撤銷發回更審". 聯合新聞網. https://udn.com/news/story/7321/2949826. 
  10. ↑ 中央通訊社 (2020-04-15). "雙子星收賄案更一審 判賴素如7年半" (in zh-Hant-TW). https://www.cna.com.tw/news/asoc/202004150069.aspx. 
  11. ↑ "雙子星案收賄百萬元 賴素如判7年半定讞" (in zh-Hant-TW). https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/202012230107.aspx. 
  12. ↑ "涉入雙子星案 馬愛將賴素如遭聲押". http://iservice.libertytimes.com.tw/liveNews/news.php?no=784398&type=%E6%94%BF%E6%B2%BB. 
  13. ↑ "台北市议员赖素如涉双子星案收贿 检方向法院提声押". https://www.taiwan.cn/xwzx/bwkx/201303/t20130328_4009147.htm. 
  14. ↑ "開口索1500萬 賴素如120萬交保" (in zh-TW). http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20130329/34918907/. 
  15. ↑ "國民黨：賴素如透過律師辭所有黨職" (in zh-TW). nownews 今日新聞. http://www.nownews.com/2013/03/28/301-2919997.htm. 
  16. ↑ "雙子星案 賴素如涉索賄裁定120萬交保". http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NATS4/7796080.shtml. 
  17. ↑ "賴素如交保 稱會配合調查" (in zh-Hant-TW). 2013-03-28. https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E8%B3%B4%E7%B4%A0%E5%A6%82%E4%BA%A4%E4%BF%9D-%E7%A8%B1%E6%9C%83%E9%85%8D%E5%90%88%E8%AA%BF%E6%9F%A5-191410903.html. 
  18. ↑ "賴素如獲裁交保 檢方將抗告". http://www.cna.com.tw/News/aSOC/201303290009-1.aspx. 
  19. ↑ "賴素如涉弊 馬英九向國人道歉" (in zh-Hant). 2013-03-29. https://news.pts.org.tw/article/236532. 
  20. ↑ "臺灣高等法院有關台灣台北地方法院檢察署檢察官不服臺灣台北地方法院對被告賴素如、程宏道等2人准予交保之裁定，提起抗告乙案之新聞稿。" (in zh-TW). http://tph.judicial.gov.tw/newsDetail.asp?SEQNO=116540. 
  21. ↑ "賴素如交保撤銷 北院十點重開羈押庭". http://news.cnyes.com/Content/20130330/KH6SDATWAJO4Y.shtml. 
  22. ↑ "賴素如交保撤銷 北院10點重開羈押庭". http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NATS4/7798507.shtml. 
  23. ↑ "賴素如交保撤銷 今重開羈押庭". http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2013/new/mar/30/today-t1.htm. 
  24. ↑ "最新　賴素如收押" (in zh-TW). http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/politics/20130330/172955/%E6%9C%80%E6%96%B0%E3%80%80%E8%B3%B4%E7%B4%A0%E5%A6%82%E6%94%B6%E6%8A%BC. 
  25. ↑ TVBS NEWS (2013-03-30). 編號0224　賴素如涉收賄遭收押. Retrieved 2026-06-20 – via YouTube.No. 0224: Lai Su-ju detained over alleged bribery.
  26. ↑ "雙子星開發弊案 賴素如收押". http://udn.com/NEWS/NATIONAL/NATS4/7799150.shtml. 
  27. ↑ "賴素如上銬進看守所編號0224" (in zh-TW). http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20130330/172971/. 
  28. ↑ "狼狽！賴素如收押禁見　「0224」住雙人房". http://www.nexttv.com.tw/news/realtime/social/10660838. 
  29. ↑ "〈短訊〉賴素如遭收押　國民黨決議停止黨權". http://www.tvbs.com.tw/news/news_list.asp?no=carlito1120130401123701. 
  30. ↑ "賴素如遭押提抗告 高院駁回" (in zh-Hant-TW). 2013-04-02. http://newtalk.tw/news/1364/93/86/35134.html. 
  31. ↑ "【快訊】賴素如獲1500萬元交保" (in zh-TW). http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/local/20130823/247553/1/%E8%B3%B4%E7%B4%A0%E5%A6%82%E3%80%801500%E8%90%AC%E5%85%83%E4%BA%A4%E4%BF%9D. 
  32. ↑ "太極雙星案一審宣判 賴素如被重判10年". https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1145561. 
  33. ↑ "雙星案下台 邱大展竟任悠遊卡董事" (in zh-TW). http://www.appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/headline/20140514/35829564/%E9%9B%99%E6%98%9F%E6%A1%88%E4%B8%8B%E5%8F%B0%E9%82%B1%E5%A4%A7%E5%B1%95%E7%AB%9F%E4%BB%BB%E6%82%A0%E9%81%8A%E5%8D%A1%E8%91%A3%E4%BA%8B. 
  34. ↑ 李春棉 (2013-03-29). "牽手污台灣！北素如、南益世…　網友KUSO藍僅馬不貪" (in zh-Hant). https://www.ettoday.net/news/20130329/185654.htm. 
  35. ↑ "陳嘉宏專欄：蔡英文執政的第一塊「破窗」" (in zh-Hant-TW). https://www.upmedia.mg/tw/commentary/political-and-economics-debate/91385. 



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