Keelung Public Works Bid-Rigging and Bribery Probe: Prosecutor Questions Councilor Tseng and 24 Others

Central News Agency Report (Reporter: Wang Chao-Yu, Keelung, July 15)

The Keelung District Prosecutors Office has launched an investigation into suspected bid-rigging and bribery related to public works projects in Keelung City. On July 15, authorities conducted searches at Keelung City Government and other locations, summoning 17 defendants—including a KMT-affiliated city councilor surnamed Tseng and a contractor surnamed Ho—and seven witnesses for questioning. The investigation is currently ongoing.

According to the Keelung Prosecutors Office, the Ministry of Justice's Anti-Corruption Agency and the Northern Regional Mobile Task Force of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau separately received举报 letters alleging that a company led by Mr. Ho had, since 2022 (Minguo Year 111), participated in public works tenders issued by the Keelung City Government under suspicious circumstances, including bid-rigging and collusive bidding, potentially violating the Government Procurement Act.

The举报 further alleges that public officials within the Keelung City Government may have accepted bribes, inflated project costs, and colluded with Councilor Tseng to manipulate public works contracts. It is suspected that the councilor used discretionary budget allocations to designate Mr. Ho’s company as the sole contractor for specific public projects.

On the morning of July 15, prosecutors led a joint operation involving the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Keelung Investigation Station of the Investigation Bureau, and the Northern Regional Mobile Task Force. A total of 31 locations were searched, including the residences and offices of Mr. Ho, the city government’s procurement center, Zhongzheng District Office, Councilor Tseng’s service center, and offices within the Keelung City Council.

Among those summoned were Mr. Yang from the city’s procurement center, District Chief Fu of Zhongzheng District Office, Councilor Tseng, and contractor Mr. Ho—17 defendants and 7 witnesses in total. The case is being investigated for potential violations of the Anti-Corruption Act and the Government Procurement Act. (Edited by Hsiao Po-Wen)