Former TSC Chairman Wu Nai-ren Ordered to Pay NT$170 Million in Land Sale Case; Taipei District Court Fails to Apprehend

(CNA, Taipei, June 3) Former DPP Secretary-General and TSC Chairman Wu Nai-ren, who was released from prison after serving time for his involvement in a case of undervaluing TSC land, is now subject to compulsory execution for a NT$170 million compensation claim by TSC. The Taichung District Court commissioned the Taipei District Court to seize Wu's assets and issued a bench warrant for his arrest, but the Taipei court has not yet apprehended him.

Wu was accused of changing TSC's 'lease-only, no-sale' policy for its land during his tenure as chairman, allegedly due to lobbying by former DPP legislator Hung Chi-chang. This led to the sale of TSC land at a low price to Chun Lung Company, a sponsor of Hung, causing TSC losses of over NT$200 million. After a retrial, the Taichung Branch of the Taiwan High Court ruled in March 2014 that Wu was guilty of illegally benefiting Chun Lung Company and sentenced him to nine months in prison.

Wu began his sentence in May 2014 and was released from Hualien Prison in January 2015 after a sentence reduction. In the civil case, Wu and Chun Lung Company were ordered to pay TSC NT$110 million in damages, which, with interest and derivative debts, has reached an estimated NT$170 million.

The civil compensation case falls under the jurisdiction of the Taichung District Court. In December 2024, the Taipei District Court, acting on a commission from the Taichung court, first seized approximately NT$17 million of Wu's assets. TSC subsequently recovered NT$7 million. In late 2024 and early 2025, TSC again filed for compulsory execution. The Taichung court then commissioned the Taipei court to arrest Wu and transfer him to Taichung for further proceedings, but the Taipei court has not yet executed the arrest.

Legal sources indicate that arrest is a preliminary step before custodial detention. If a debtor fails to fulfill their compensation obligations, they may be subject to detention. However, it remains unknown whether Wu will face detention in the future.

Article 21 of the Compulsory Execution Act stipulates that to ensure the smooth progress of enforcement, if the court deems it necessary for the debtor to appear, the executing court may legally arrest them. Additionally, if a debtor fails to appear without a valid reason after legal notification, and there is evidence suggesting a risk of flight, the court may also issue a bench warrant for their arrest. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150603