Second trial of SOGO case, Chen Chaoming and Xu Yongming are not guilty, the High People's Procuratorate appeals

There was a reversal in the second trial of the SOGO case, with Chen Chaoming and Xu Yongming acquitted. The High Prosecutor's Office said yesterday that it had appealed against Chen, Xu and other defendants. (File photo)

In order to regain the operating rights of Tailiu and SOGO, former Pacific Circulation Investment Company Chairman Li Henglong bribed five legislators including former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Su Zhenqing, former KMT legislator Liao Guodong, non-party legislator Chen Chaoming, former Times Power legislator Xu Yongming, and former non-party legislator Zhao Zhengyu. The relevant defendants were sentenced in the first instance ranging from six months to ten years; in the second trial, there was a reversal, and Chen Chaoming and Xu Yongming were acquitted. The High Prosecutor's Office said yesterday that it had appealed against the five defendants, including Chen and Xu.

The judgment violates the law in determining the facts.

Li Henglong was dissatisfied with the results of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' registration of Tailiu Company, and after unsuccessful litigation, he turned to the legislators for help. Su, Liao, Chen, and Xu used questioning and other means to pressure the Ministry of Economic Affairs to amend the law, and were prosecuted for corruption and other crimes.

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The Taipei District Court sentenced Su Zhenqing to ten years, Liao Guodong to June of the eighth year, Chen Chaoming to August of the seventh year, Xu Yongming to April of the seventh year, and Li Henglong, who committed bribery, was sentenced to one year and two months, suspended for five years, and paid NT$10 million to the public treasury.

Zhao Zhengyu was sentenced to six months for tax evasion; Liao Guodong's office director Ding Fuhua was sentenced to ten years and four years of probation; Chen Chaoming's assistant Liang Wen was sentenced to five years; Su Zhenqing's office assistant Yu Xueyang was not guilty; Xu Yongming's assistant Wu Shichang was sentenced to six years and six months; Zhao Zhengyu's office director Lin Jiaqi was sentenced to two years and five years of probation.

After the case was appealed, the High Court believed that the relevant evidence was insufficient to prove that Chen Chaoming, Liang Wenyi, Xu Yongming, and Wu Shichang had committed corruption, and the four people were acquitted. Yu Xueyang also partially maintained his innocence; Su Zhenqing and Liao Guodong upheld the first-instance sentences; Li Henglong, Zhao Zhengyu, Ding Fuhua, Lin Jiaqi, and others did not appeal after the first instance, and the sentences were confirmed.

The High People's Procuratorate stated that the second-instance judgment violated the law in the selection of evidence and the determination of facts, and was unprepared for reasons, so it appealed against Chen Chaoming, Xu Yongming, Liang Wenyi, Wu Shichang and Yu Xueyang.

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