New竹 City Stadium Case: Opposition lawmakers demand appeal, civil claims

A group of seven Taiwan People's Party councilors and candidates in New竹 City are urging the city government to appeal the recent non-prosecution ruling in the controversial New竹 Municipal Stadium case. The district prosecutor's office concluded its four-year investigation, clearing former Mayor Lin Chih-chien and other officials of charges, though some individuals received suspended prosecution for document forgery.

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The stadium's underground excavation revealed waste materials like red bricks, wires, and plastic products, which also involve Class B5 construction waste. In other words, 'waste was dug up under the stadium' is an objective fact.

The opposition lawmakers contend that the prosecutor's findings, which acknowledged the discovery of construction waste like bricks and plastic products beneath the stadium, confirm that "waste was dug up under the stadium" as an objective fact. They question whether the presence of such materials, even if a small percentage of the total excavated soil, was permissible according to contract and engineering standards.

Furthermore, they point to admissions of falsified documents by some individuals who received suspended prosecution. While acknowledging the prosecutor's decision to attribute other construction irregularities to a lack of criminal intent, construction oversights, or worker negligence, the lawmakers assert that these criminal rulings do not absolve the project of quality issues or related administrative, contractual, and civil liabilities.

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Although criminally not prosecuted, it does not mean the quality of the stadium's construction that year was not problematic, nor does it mean administrative, contractual, and civil liabilities are wiped out.

"Although criminally not prosecuted, it does not mean the quality of the stadium's construction that year was not problematic, nor does it mean administrative, contractual, and civil liabilities are wiped out," the statement read. The group supports the city government's review of the case for an appeal, focusing on discrepancies in waste calculation, unincluded materials, document falsification, procurement compliance, and missing time-lapse footage. They also back the city's pursuit of civil claims to recover rights for the citizens.

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We support the city government in legally reviewing the appeal regarding the calculation of waste quantities, unincluded portions, falsification of construction documents, government procurement compliance, missing time-lapse photography, and other unclarified matters.