Former Changhua Township Representative Sentenced to 7 Years for Land Deal Bribery

(CNA, Taipei, July 8) Former Changhua County Township Representative Li Yue-min has been sentenced to 7 years in prison, with the sentence finalized by the Supreme Court, for pressuring township office personnel to build a drainage ditch and pave a road with asphalt to facilitate the sale of his sister's land to a developer. He illegally profited over NT$930,000. The court has notified prosecutors to initiate measures to prevent his flight.

According to previous rulings, Li served as a township representative and chairman of the Huatan Township Representative Assembly in Changhua County from August 2002 to December 2018. He also held positions as acting clerk, acting technician, and technician in the township office's construction section, where he was responsible for processing building permit applications. He was familiar with the laws, requirements, procedures, and necessary documents for designating building lines. Subsequently, he engaged in land brokerage, earning commissions.

The ruling states that Li knew his sister's land was "landlocked" and could not have a designated building line. To ensure the land was sold smoothly and to earn a commission, he illegally proposed to the township representative assembly in 2016 and then illegally directed a site inspection for the construction of a drainage ditch, the paving of an asphalt road, and the resurfacing of the road, despite the land having no history of flooding. This action illegally created a public law claim for a designated building line, allowing him to receive a land brokerage commission of NT$933,435.

The first-instance ruling stated that Li, in order to obtain the brokerage commission and benefit the developer who purchased the land, knowingly violated conflict of interest regulations but proceeded with the act. His actions constituted an abuse of his public representative duties, damaging official integrity, and warranted severe condemnation. Furthermore, he showed no remorse and had a poor attitude after the offense. He was sentenced to 7 years for profiteering and deprived of his civil rights for 5 years. Li appealed the verdict, but the Taiwan High Court Taichung Branch dismissed the appeal.

Upon appeal to the third instance, the Supreme Court reviewed the case and found no errors in the lower courts' determination of facts or application of law, deeming the sentence appropriate. The court dismissed the appeal yesterday, finalizing the case. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150708

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