Taiwan

Taiwan plans new agency after judicial scandal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-20 23:40

TAIPEI - Taiwanese authorities announced Tuesday the establishment of a new anti-graft agency, in the wake of a corruption scandal involving several high court judges.

The anti-graft agency will be similar to those in Hong Kong and Singapore and will be affiliated to the judiciary department, Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou told a press conference.

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Ma said he has already asked the judiciary department to set up the new agency.

The establishment of the new agency will require law amendments and the approval of local legislature.

"I am very much determined to have clean government," Ma said.

The island has been hit by a series of scandals involving law enforcement departments recently.

In June, several Taichung police officers were found to have improper relations with gangsters and to have gambled in underground casinos.

Last week, three High Court judges and a prosecutor were taken into custody for allegedly accepting bribes from a former lawmaker, Ho Chih-hui, in exchange for issuing a not-guilty verdict in a trial.

The scandal has prompted strong calls to reform the judicial system.

Taiwan's judiciary chief, Lai In-jaw, and Taiwan High Court chief Huang Shui-tung have resigned from their posts.

According to a judiciary department poll, 75 percent of respondents supported the government's decision to establish an independent anti-graft agency.

However, the proposal to set up a new agency has raised questions. Some say the new agency's powers may overlap those of corruption-busting agencies in the prosecutors' office.

But others disagree.

"Having two competing anti-graft agencies will help improve their overall work," said Huang Kuo-chung, a senior Taipei-based lawyer. "Moreover, the new agency is likely to get rid of some of the bureaucracy of the old departments."