Official to face Control Yuan inquiry for botched Taipei Twin Towers bid

An investigative task force comprising Control Yuan members has been formed to conduct an inquiry regarding Richard Chen (陳椿亮), the resigned Department of Rapid Transit Systems (DORTS, 捷運局) commissioner, and Lin Hsun-chieh (林勳杰), division chief of DORTS' Department of Construction Management, according to a Control Yuan press release.

Chen expressed his wish to resign on Feb. 21, following the disqualification of the forerunning bidder, but his resignation was not accepted by Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) until yesterday.

“I am willing to shoulder my responsibility for a dispute that has embroiled the city government,” said Chen, who also expressed regret and pledged to cooperate with the investigation. “In principle, I have agreed to his resignation,” Hau said.

According to the Control Yuan, the results of an investigation into the botched development bid and a review into the auditing process of the former forerunning bidder will be made available to the public upon completion.

The Control Yuan will oversee the continuation of the bidding process for the second-placed bidder, BES Constructions (中華工程), in addition to overseeing the return of bid depository funds to the development's landowners.

In a previous address on Feb. 23, Department of Legal Affairs Commissioner Tsai Li-wen (蔡立文) said that the two companies tasked with auditing the bidders, China Credit Information Service Ltd. and Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), had concluded that the three leading bidders, which included the disqualified forerunner, financially sound.

According to Chen, the statement of fund transfer submitted by disqualified bidder Taipei Gateway International Development Co. Ltd (TGID, 太極雙星) just before the deadline on Feb. 21 has been sent to the prosecutors' office for investigation.

Currently it is not apparent why TGID failed to make the deposit, but Hau speculated that it might have been due to internal problems.

The Taipei Twin Towers are expected to serve as the hub for a new Mass Rapid Transit line that will connect Taipei to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, in addition to integrating several rail lines and a major bus terminal, and represent the largest development bid in the history of Taiwan.

The project has seen four failed bids since its initiation by President Ma Ying-jeou in 2004, during his second term as Taipei mayor.

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