Taitung prosecutors appeal again in resort road corruption case

Taitung prosecutors are again appealing a court's decision that denied the detention of an agricultural official and a former section chief. The two are suspected of corruption related to the construction of an oversized agricultural road for the "Dongying Resort."

The Taitung District Court had previously rejected prosecutors' requests to detain the agricultural department director, Hsu Chia-hao, and a former section chief. Following a successful appeal by the prosecution, the court reconsidered the case. However, on August 6, the court again refused to order their detention, instead setting bail at NT$100,000 (approximately $3,100 USD) for Hsu.

Taitung prosecutors maintain that detention is still necessary to ensure evidence preservation and prevent potential flight risks. They filed another appeal on August 7, emphasizing that the investigation into the alleged corruption scheme is ongoing. The prosecution stated that the criminal details and involved parties will be clarified according to the law, urging the public to avoid speculation.

Investigators suspect that the Taitung County Government's agricultural department may have facilitated the construction of an oversized agricultural road for the "Dongying Resort," owned by the family of Speaker Wu Hsiu-hua, in the Chienho mountain area. This alleged action is believed to have benefited specific businesses. The prosecution's repeated attempts to secure detention highlight their concerns about the integrity of the investigation and the need to secure all relevant evidence.