Twelve people -- including former and current lawmakers -- have been indicted in a major bribery case that wrapped up on Thursday.
Four current lawmakers were indicted, including: the Kuomintang’s Chen Chao-ming and Liao Kuo-tung; the Democratic Progressive Party’s Su Chen-ching; and independent lawmaker Chao Cheng-yu. Also on the list is former New Power Party legislator Hsu Yung-ming, who was stripped of his party chairmanship after he was reported to have taken bribes.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office says the lawmakers have been charged with violating the Anti-Corruption Act, having accepted bribes from the former chairman of the Pacific Distribution Investment Co., Lee Heng-lung.
Prosecutors say that Lee first reached out to the lawmakers in 2013, asking for help in a legal battle to gain ownership of the Pacific SOGO Department store chain, and paying them to exert their political influence in the fight for ownership.
The prosecution says Su accepted NT$25.8 million ($892,300) from Lee, Liao NT$7.9 million ($273,200) and Chen NT$1 million ($34,600).
Prosecutors say they will advocate a lighter sentence for Lee, because he confessed to his wrongdoing during the investigation.