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Updated Saturday, February 4, 2012 0:43 am TWN, The China Post news staff

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Supervisors to be replaced for lax oversight: minister

The China Post news staff--Minister of Justice (MOJ) Tseng Yung-fu (曾勇夫) said yesterday that the ministry's supervisors can be penalized for not reporting the misbehavior of their underlings.

If the supervisory negligence is serious, the chief will be replaced, said Tseng yesterday, at a Spring Festival event hosted by MOJ.

Tseng's statement comes amid the Agency Against Corruption's (廉政署) recent probes of judicial corruption.

Chiayi prosecutor Chan Chao-shu (詹昭書) is accused of pocketing NT$1 million, two cars and a scooter bribes from resort operators. Another prosecutor, Kaohsiung's Ching Tien-po (井天博), is suspected of a number of infractions across a two-year period.

Tseng, who was recently retained for another term, yesterday reiterated a vow to root out corruption.

Said Tseng, he is issuing a strong warning to prosecutors with “no self respect”: No measures will be spared to weed out black sheep of the flock.

Having served in prosecutorial units for 40 years, he believes most of his colleagues are hard-working, responsible, and professional.

He continued, but a minority lack self respect, personal integrity, and attention toward duty. Such personnel will be held accountable for their legal infractions, he continued.

MOJ will also investigate supervisors and other leaders for lax oversight. Said Tseng, personnel who violate the law typically have a lengthy record of misdemeanors, which is possible because their supervisors fail to report first-time violations.

If their neglect of oversight is serious, supervisors will be replaced, Tseng continued.

Prosecutors with exemplary records will be rewarded appropriately.

No Change on Death Sentences

Also yesterday, the minister told local press that Taiwan's existing death-penalty sentences will stand, though he is committed to eventually phasing out the death penalty as a verdict.

Nine inmates have been executed during Tseng's tenure as MOJ minister, leaving some 50 offenders waiting on death row.

Asked about the timetable for executions, Tseng said only that executions will proceed upon completion of case review. There is no way to predict the timing, he said.

Tseng reiterated a promise to eventually abolish the death penalty.

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