Free Lectures" Keelung scandal, Xie Guoliang used the previous administration as a shield

A case of bribery and procurement fraud broke out in the Keelung City Government's public projects. On November 5, the Keelung District Prosecutor's Office prosecuted Kuomintang city councilor Zeng Jiyan and four city civil servants. Five days later at the mayoral debate, Keelung City Speaker Tong Ziwei asked Mayor Xie Guoliang whether he knew about the circumstances of his subordinates’ involvement in the case, but Xie listed the previous abuses one by one. During his term of office, the city government was held accountable, and it actually used the old accounts of the previous administration as its own answer sheet.

According to the prosecutor's indictment, the congressman involved in the case was accused of accepting bribes from the industry from April 2023 to June this year, and was concerned about the progress of the project acceptance.

The Keelung District Prosecutor's Office determined that Keelung City Councilor Zeng Jiyan was involved in accepting NT$1.33 million in bribes from business owners and had more than NT$16.88 million in property of unknown origin. He was charged with accepting bribes and property of unknown origin in accordance with the Corruption Crime Regulations.

This period was during Xie Guoliang's term as mayor. Criminal liability will be heard by the courts, and administrative supervision is the question that the mayor must face now: What are the original control measures for contract issuance, acceptance and appropriation? City officials are suspected of having long-term dealings with business operators. When did the competent authorities become aware of it? The mayor didn't explain it clearly, but he knew the old cases by heart.

Xie emphasized that the city government canceled the funds recommended by members and showed its courage to prevent fraud. Canceling the proposal fee changes the way projects are recommended, but it cannot answer why past tendering, performance and acceptance have been abused. If the city government stops the relevant system only after the abuse occurs, this remedial measure will further highlight the shortcomings of the original supervision. Regarding the redress as a political achievement, there is still no answer as to who was responsible for supervising the case during the period involved.

Xie also pointed out that the investigation and prosecution were close to the election, saying to Tong Ziwei: "It must be very helpful to you, Speaker Tong." When the prosecutor chooses to prosecute, and whether city officials are involved in the case are two different facts. If Xie has concrete evidence to question the judicial process, he can raise it publicly. Simply implying political manipulation based on the pre-election timing will only make citizens' concerns about doubtful points in the project taken away by the election campaign.

The previous government was responsible for the malpractices of the previous government, and the current municipal government must also explain the malpractices of the current government. Xie Guoliang has been in power for nearly four years and has the city government's project information, personnel management and administrative resources in his hands. What voters want to see is not the list of previous cases involved, but how he supervises the city government during his tenure. No matter how many old debts we have from the previous dynasty, they cannot equal the answer sheet we owe the citizens.