No 2 at Taiwan customs held on bribery charges
Taiwanese authorities have arrested a senior customs official who is alleged to have accepted bribes, in the latest of a series of corruption scandals to hit the island.
The arrest follows last week's indictment of former president Lee Teng-hui, who was indicted on charges of embezzling US$7.8 million in national security funds while in office between 1988 and 2000.
Lu Tsai-yih, 65, who was to retire on July 16 as deputy director-general of the island's customs administration, was arrested along with three officials on Thursday on suspicion of taking bribes, prosecutors said.
'The suspects allegedly accepted bribes, including cash, valuable gifts, paid-for trips and even sexual services in return of favours for businessmen and cover for the illegal import of banned products,' said Wang Wen-te, a spokesman for the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office.
Following a tip-off investigators began monitoring the suspects more than a year ago, Wang said. Video evidence showed Lu being treated by customs brokers and importers to meals in upmarket restaurants, and accepting gifts and favours.
Irregularities suspected to have been committed by Lu and the three officials included lowering estimated values of cargoes to help importers evade or pay lower tariffs and clearing unchecked containers carrying banned stone and agricultural items from the mainland, Wang said.
Wang declined to disclose the amount of bribes the suspects had taken, saying prosecutors were still investigating. However, Taiwanese media, quoting a quarry processing union, said at least one company had paid more than NT$100 million (HK$27 million) to the customs administration to turn a blind eye to its import of smuggled stone from the mainland over the past 10 years.
Wang said six businessmen and a legislator's aide were also arrested in connection with the case.
A series of scandals have come to light since Ma Ying-jeou became president in 2008, promising to stamp out corruption. Last year, his predecessor, Chen Shui-bian, was jailed on two counts of bribery, with more charges pending.
14%
The proportion of Taiwan's imports in March this year that came from the rest of China
- The imports were worth US$24.4 billion
