Taoyuan Sanitation Worker Appeals Bribery Conviction, Sentence Upheld

(CNA, Taipei, July 7) A sanitation worker from the Taoyuan City Government's Environmental Sanitation Inspection Brigade, surnamed Jiao, was accused of accepting bribes to illegally dispose of waste. He appealed his two-year and ten-month sentence from the first trial, claiming he surrendered himself to the authorities and seeking a lighter sentence. The High Court ruled that he did not meet the criteria for self-surrender and on July 7, rejected his appeal, upholding the original sentence. The verdict can be appealed.

The Taiwan High Court stated that Jiao initially denied the charges. During the prosecution's investigation, he submitted a letter of self-surrender but claimed he did not receive any payment, thus not meeting the requirements for self-surrender. The original judgment correctly stated that Jiao was not eligible for the provisions of self-surrender, which is legally sound. Furthermore, the court considered his actions and granted a reduced sentence, imposing two years and ten months imprisonment. The sentence was not deemed excessively harsh, and thus the appeal was rejected.

According to the indictment from the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, Dongchang Trading Company in Pingzhen District, without a waste disposal permit, illegally collected general industrial waste from businesses. As they were unable to send it to an incinerator, the responsible person, surnamed Song, in order to save on disposal costs, paid bribes to a sanitation worker surnamed Liu from the Yangmei District Brigade's night shift resource recycling group. Liu acted as an intermediary to a sanitation worker surnamed Jiao from the Zhongli District Brigade, who then assisted in the illegal transport of general industrial waste.

From September 2020 to February 28, 2021, sanitation workers Liu and Jiao accepted a total of NT$159,600 in bribes, of which NT$33,000 was given to Jiao. After Jiao was transferred on March 1, 2021, he continued to engage in illegal waste transport. Liu received NT$32,120 in bribes, of which NT$13,200 was given to Jiao. Liu also instructed two unaware sanitation workers to illegally transport waste, receiving NT$5,760 in bribes.

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office indicted the three individuals on charges of corruption, recommending a reduced sentence considering they returned the illicit gains.

The first trial at the Taoyuan District Court found that sanitation workers Jiao and Liu, as public officials, abused their positions to accept bribes and assist in illegal waste disposal, damaging the integrity of public servants and the credibility of the government. Responsible person Song, for personal gain, bribed public officials and illegally dumped waste, harming environmental hygiene and national land conservation.

The Taoyuan District Court, considering that the three confessed their crimes after the fact, and that sanitation workers Jiao and Liu submitted letters of self-surrender and showed good post-offense conduct, granted reduced sentences according to relevant regulations. Jiao was sentenced to two years and ten months imprisonment and deprived of public rights for two years for violating official duties and accepting bribes under the Anti-Corruption Act. Liu was sentenced to three years imprisonment and deprived of public rights for two years.

Responsible person Song was convicted of bribery under the Anti-Corruption Act and sentenced to one year and four months imprisonment, with a four-year suspended sentence and deprivation of public rights for one year. During the suspension period, he was placed under protective supervision and ordered to pay NT$50,000 to the public treasury and provide 129 hours of community service to a government agency, government institution, administrative corporation, community, or other organization designated by the prosecutor that serves a public interest.

After the first trial, only Jiao appealed, and the second trial was handled by the High Court. The cases involving Liu and Song have been finalized. (Editor: Hsiao Po-wen) 1150707

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