Flora Expo controversy being probed

After charging that the contracted prices for flowers and plants to decorate the Xinsheng Overpass were unreasonably high, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has turned its attention to the flowers for the upcoming flora exposition.

The DPP said the Special Investigation Division (SID) under the Supreme Prosecutors Office and the Control Yuan — the government's top supervisory arm — should take the initiative to look into the matter.

In response, State Public Prosecutor General Huang Shih-ming said the SID is not in a position to investigate the flora expo flower pricing issue, but that the Taipei Prosecutors Office is already doing so.

Huang, however, declined to provide any details on the progress of the investigation, saying that ongoing criminal investigations should be kept confidential.

The Taipei Prosecutors Office assigned prosecutor Chen Shu-yun to deal with the case immediately after it received a request in late August, sources familiar with the matter said.

Meanwhile, Chen is also handling an appeal by a group of DPP Taipei City councilors for an investigation into possible suspected dereliction of duty and profiteering by Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin.

Hau has been accused of paying unreasonable high prices for flowers for the Flora Expo and vegetation to decorate the Xinsheng Overpass.

In addition, Chen has been assigned to investigate allegations of malfeasance or irregularities involving Join Engineering Consultants, the contractor on the elevated expressway's landscaping project, and three city officials, over vegetation prices. That case was forwarded to the prosecutors office by the Taipei City government Saturday.

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