Wikipedia

Wu Tse-yuan

Wu Tse-yuan (Chinese: 伍澤元; pinyin: Wǔ Zéyuán; 17 August 1945 – 22 September 2008) was a Taiwanese politician, known for his involvement in black gold politics, and ties to gangs.[1][2][3]

Wu Tse-yuan
MLY
伍澤元
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
1 February 1999 – 29 December 2001
ConstituencyPingtung County
Pingtung County Magistrate
In office
20 December 1993 – 14 October 1997
Preceded bySu Tseng-chang
Succeeded byChang Man-chuan (acting)
Su Jia-chyuan
Member of the National Assembly
In office
1992–1996
Personal details
Born(1945-08-17)17 August 1945
Takao Prefecture, Taiwan, Empire of Japan
Died22 September 2008(2008-09-22) (aged 63)
Shanghai, China
Political partyIndependent (after 1998)
Other political
affiliations		Kuomintang (until 1998)
RelationsWu Jin-lin (brother)
EducationCentral Police University (LLB)
National Taiwan University
National Chiao Tung University (MS)
Chinese Culture University (PhD)

Education and early career

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Wu studied law at Central Police University after attending what became the National Pingtung University of Education. Subsequently, he enrolled at National Taiwan University's Graduate School of Building and Planning, and completed a master's degree in transportation engineering at National Chiao Tung University, followed by a doctorate in engineering at Chinese Culture University. He later pursued further education at the Graduate Program of Building and Construction within the University of London.[4]

Political career

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A protégé of Lee Teng-hui,[5] Wu was also close to Wang Jin-pyng and Lien Chan.[6][7] As leader of the Taiwan Provincial Planning and Developing Department from 1988 to 1992, Wu began taking kickbacks from a company installing water pumps in Banqiao District.[8][9] He contested the 1993 local elections as a Kuomintang candidate for the magistracy of Pingtung County and won reelection in 1997.[10] Wu was indicted in 1996 for his actions in Banqiao,[11] but not detained until a 1997 court order and had been released on medical parole in 1998.[12][13] Later that year, local media reported Wu's expulsion from the Kuomintang.[14] He gained legal immunity in December via his election to the Legislative Yuan, as a representative for Pingtung County.[15][16] In January 2000, Wu Tse-yuan and Lien Chan were accused of land speculation in Wuqi, Taichung, dating back to 1993.[17] On 30 November 2000, the Taiwan High Court sentenced Wu to fifteen years imprisonment for the Banqiao corruption case.[18][19] A week later, the Executive Yuan proposed an amendment to the Public Officials Election and Recall Law targeting Wu and other politicians involved with black gold politics. The amendment sought to bar anyone serving a suspended sentence, a sentence longer than ten years imprisonment, or a death sentence from seeking public office. In addition, convicted racketeers released within ten years of an election would also be illegible for that election cycle.[20] In March 2001, Wu was indicted in another corruption scandal involving the Pali Sewage Treatment Plant.[21] He, Lo Fu-chu, and other legislators planned on founding a new political group affiliated with Lee Teng-hui in 2001,[22] but the proposal was postponed that July.[23] Wu left for Japan on 29 December 2001 as part of a junket, and never returned to Taiwan.[12] He was tracked to Guangzhou some time later.[24][25]

In 2004, Taiwan Pineapple Group executive Huang Tsung-hung claimed that he bribed Wu in 1999 and asked Wu to help him secure a loan for his company.[26][27]

Personal life

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Wu Jin-lin is his younger brother.[28] The younger Wu ran for a Pingtung County seat in the legislative elections of 2004, and won.[29] The Apple Daily was the first Taiwanese publication to report Wu Tse-yuan's death in September 2008, but immediately afterward, both Wu Jin-lin and the Ministry of Justice refused to confirm media reports.[30]

References

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  1. ^ Chiu, Yu-Tzu (14 March 2004). "DPP blasts 'black-gold' legacy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  2. ^ Lin, Chieh-yu (15 June 2001). "Chen stresses need to target officials connected to gangs". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  3. ^ Lin, Chieh-yu (12 March 2000). "Change history, says Chen". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Wu Tse-yuan (4)". Legislative Yuan. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  5. ^ "A gangster-style killing highlights dirty politics". CNN.com. 1999. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  6. ^ Engbarth, Dennis (14 March 2000). "Not all crows are the same shade of black". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  7. ^ Huang, Jewel (12 November 2004). "Chen touts the 'future legislative speaker'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  8. ^ Wang, Scott (10 May 2006). "A Corrupt Corner Where No Light Shines". CommonWealth Magazine. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  9. ^ Chang, Rich (8 May 2005). "Police begin probe into Bamboo Union after airport clash". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  10. ^ Sheng, Virginia (3 April 1997). "Parties prepare to fight year-end poll contests". Taiwan Today. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016 – via Taiwan Info. Alt URL
  11. ^ "Former MOJIB detective repatriated from Malaysia". Taipei Times. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  12. ^ a b Chuang, Jimmy (14 September 2004). "Corrupt politicians, tycoons choose exile over jail time". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  13. ^ Lin, Irene (12 January 2000). "Justice minister gets 'top' spot in rankings". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  14. ^ Chang, Frank (30 October 1998). "Parties vie to grasp power reins". Taiwan Today. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016. Alt URL
  15. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (28 January 2003). "Yu says arrest of former lawmaker a top priority". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  16. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (21 September 2003). "Justice ministry denies fugitive fraudster's arrest". Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Lien implicated in money scandal". Taipei Times. 5 January 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  18. ^ Lin, Irene (1 December 2000). "Legislator gets 15 years for corruption". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  19. ^ Lin, Chieh-yu (4 December 2000). "Declare war on crime, Chen urged". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  20. ^ Huang, Joyce (7 December 2000). "Convicts could be banned from office". Taipei Times. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  21. ^ Jou, Ying-cheng; Lin, Irene (14 March 2001). "Wu Tse-yuan indicted for another corruption scandal". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  22. ^ Low, Stephanie (13 June 2001). "Gary Wang clarifies political plans". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  23. ^ Low, Stephanie (24 July 2001). "Lo Fu-chu postpones new party". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  24. ^ Tsai, Ting-i (22 January 2003). "China urged to take back immigrants". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  25. ^ Ko, Shu-ling (26 November 2003). "Disgraced Chu An-hsiung is Taiwan's most wanted". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  26. ^ Chuang, Jimmy (15 March 2004). "A journey from riches to ragged scandal". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  27. ^ Wu, Debby (10 March 2004). "Lien presses charges over allegations by former Taiwan Pineapple official". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  28. ^ Wu, Debby (13 November 2004). "DPP launches propaganda offensive at speaker". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  29. ^ Wu, Debby (24 November 2004). "Pan-blue alliance suffering from lack of unified strategies". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  30. ^ "MOJ mum on news of top fugitive Wu Tse-yuan's death". Taipei Times. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
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