DPP suspends two members following vote-buying claims
The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Central Evaluation Committee yesterday suspended the membership rights of Tainan City Council Speaker Chiu Li-li (邱莉莉) and Deputy Speaker Lin Chih-chan (林志展) for three years over vote-buying accusations.
Vice President and DPP Chairman William Lai (賴清德) last week presided over a meeting of the party’s Central Standing Committee, which handed over Chiu and Lin’s case to the Central Evaluation Committee with the suggestion that their party membership rights be suspended.
Chiu and Lin were accused of vote-buying in the local elections in November last year. They were last month summoned by prosecutors for questioning and released on bail for NT$500,000 (US$16,643) and NT$200,000 respectively.
Prosecutors on Monday again summoned the two for questioning, before releasing Chiu and Lin on bail of NT$1.5 million and NT$1.2 million respectively.
Central Evaluation Committee director Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) yesterday said that the DPP would await the trial’s outcome before taking further action.
“The members will be expelled from the party if proven guilty of vote-buying, this is a certainty,” he said.
Chiu and Lin said they respected the party’s decision, but hoped it would institute measures to restore their honor should the court prove their innocence.
Chiu said the party’s charter and regulations should be respected, adding that the decision comes at a time that allows both men to carry out their duties at the Tainan City Council with neutrality. Read More…
