Former Cabinet Spokesperson Chen Tsung-yen Acquitted of Bribery Charges in Taiwan

Tainan District Court Cites Insufficient Evidence in High-Profile Case

Taipei, Taiwan – Former Cabinet spokesperson Chen Tsung-yen (陳宗彥), embroiled in controversy and forced to resign, has been found not guilty of bribery by the Tainan District Court. The ruling, delivered on Thursday, concludes a case that has drawn significant public attention.

The court's decision hinged on the lack of sufficient evidence to prove Chen violated the Anti-Corruption Act. Two nightclub operators implicated in the case, surnamed Lien (連) and Wang (王), were also acquitted for the same reason.

In its verdict, the court specifically noted that prosecutors failed to definitively establish that the individual identified as "Chair Chen" (陳董) in surveillance recordings was indeed Chen Tsung-yen.

The case originated in 2013 when Tainan prosecutors investigated alleged illegal activities involving Wang. During this investigation, Wang was suspected of bribing officials, including Chen, who at the time held positions as the director of the Tainan Civil Affairs Bureau and director-general of the city's Information and International Relations Department.

Despite the initial investigation, the case was referred for separate handling in April 2014 due to a lack of specific evidence, and the follow-up investigation was later closed without charges as bribery could not be confirmed.

The case resurfaced in early 2023, prompting Chen to resign from his Cabinet post after just 18 days in office.

Prosecutors had indicted Chen on August 15, 2024, seeking a heavy sentence. The prosecution argued that Chen showed little remorse for his alleged actions.

Evidence presented suggested Chen had sexual encounters with three women using pseudonyms on 16 occasions. The evidence included 10 payments totaling NT$12,000 (US$397.60) and two instances where sex was exchanged for gifts. The remaining four instances could not be verified.

Prosecutors acknowledged that, due to the time elapsed, they were unable to locate or summon the three women to testify.

The verdict is subject to appeal.