The Taiwan High Court on Sunday reversed a district court’s decision to release a high-profile land developer on bail. The businessman is Farglory Land Development Co. Chairman Chao Teng-hsiung.
Prosecutors brought Chao in for questioning on allegations that he bribed a local government official in connection with a development project in Taoyuan County, northern Taiwan. A district court decided on Saturday to release Chao and another Farglory official – Wei Chun-hsung – on bail. Chao posted bail of NT$5 million (US$166,425), and Wei posted bail of NT$1 million (US$33,285).
But the high court on Sunday then ruled that the decision to release the two on bail was not well-grounded. The court said that the bail was not set high enough to prevent the two from posting bail, and potentially either colluding on the case or fleeing the country.
Meanwhile, the courts have approved the detention of two other suspects. One is a former college professor, Tsai Jen-hui, who is said to be an intermediary in the bribing allegations. The other is Taoyuan County Deputy Magistrate Yeh Shih-wen, who Chao was allegedly trying to bribe.