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District court orders Cheng's detention
The Taoyuan District Court has ordered Cheng Wen-tsan to be detained as part of an investigation into alleged corruption.
The decision by the court comes after it opted to release the former vice premier on bail during two previous hearings. The Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office appealed both of those rulings.
According to the district court, it ruled in favour of a request by the prosecutors for a detention order after agreeing that Cheng could use his political and business ties to influence the ongoing investigation. The court says prosecutors' arguments were supported by messages Cheng sent to his secretary before he was questioned on 5 July, which showed he had already received information about the investigation.
Prosecutors say they believe Cheng accepted a bribe, leaked information to other suspects in the case, and laundered money.
The DPP's Anti Corruption Committee has also announced that Cheng's party membership will be suspended for three years starting today following his being detained. Meanwhile, Cheng's lawyers say they will appeal the court's decision.
