Former Pingxi District Chief Chen Sheng-tsung Gets Suspended Sentence for Misappropriating Engineering Funds for Banquets

(CNA Taipei, June 23) Former Director of the New Taipei City Vocational Training Center, Chen Sheng-tsung, while serving as Pingxi District Chief, was found to have misappropriated engineering funds for banquets to entertain local figures, defrauding NT$20,000. The first trial sentenced him to 3 years and 10 months; the second trial reduced the sentence to 2 years, suspended for 5 years, with a payment of NT$500,000 to the national treasury. The Supreme Court recently rejected the appeal, making the ruling final.

The first trial at the Keelung District Court stated that Chen Sheng-tsung, during his tenure as Pingxi District Chief in 2018, hosted a banquet for local figures and instructed the then-unaware head of the engineering section, Mr. Kao, to disburse engineering management fees. The banquet consisted of 4 tables, with each table costing NT$5,000, totaling NT$20,000, and was attended by 36 local individuals.

Chen Sheng-tsung argued that the purpose of the banquet was to thank local gentry for their assistance in promoting the district office's engineering projects and to discuss the following year's engineering plans, thus justifying the use of engineering management fees. He denied charges of defrauding property by abusing his official position and falsifying official documents.

However, the first trial judge deemed that the banquet did not involve any engineering observation, promotion, or land acquisition coordination activities, which was inconsistent with the purpose of engineering management fee expenditure. He was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months for the crime of defrauding property by abusing his official position under the Anti-Corruption Act.

Chen Sheng-tsung appealed the sentence. The second trial at the Taiwan High Court upheld the criminal facts and charges determined in the original judgment. The collegiate bench considered that Chen Sheng-tsung admitted his guilt, returned the illicit gains of NT$20,000, and resigned from his civil service position of 20 years to demonstrate his resolve for self-reflection. The sentence was reduced to 2 years imprisonment, suspended for 5 years, with a period of protective supervision. He was also ordered to pay NT$500,000 to the national treasury, perform 50 hours of community service, and attend 10 hours of legal education.

The prosecutor disagreed with the verdict and appealed. After review, the Supreme Court found no errors in the second trial's determination of facts and application of law, and the sentencing was appropriate. On the 18th of this month, the appeal was rejected, and the case is now final. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150623

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