Solar Scandal in Taiwan: Corruption Charges Rock Green Energy Project

Six Individuals, Including Military Personnel, Indicted in Changhua County Bribery Case

Taipei, Taiwan – In a significant blow to Taiwan's green energy initiatives, prosecutors in Changhua County announced the indictment of six individuals on corruption charges related to a solar panel project. The charges allege bribery and illegal profiteering, shaking the confidence in the integrity of certain government processes.

The investigation, which concluded on March 26th, centered around alleged collusion between four current and former servicemen and a broker to solicit bribes from green energy contractors. The Changhua District Prosecutors Office revealed the names of the servicemen involved: logistics officer Lieutenant Colonel Hsu (許), retired officer Yeh (葉), Sergeant Chen (陳), and Captain Tsai (蔡).

According to the indictment, the scheme unfolded in August and September 2022. Lieutenant Colonel Hsu (許) allegedly instructed the broker, another individual named Chen (陳), to invite contractors to submit bids and collect bribes. A green energy contractor, identified as Huang (黃), secured the bid with an offer of NT$200 million (US$6 million). Prosecutors claim that half of this amount was earmarked as a bribe.

Huang (黃) initially considered withdrawing from the deal due to concerns about the cost and profitability following a site inspection. However, the contractor later renegotiated a contract for NT$130 million to continue working on the project.

Following a tip-off, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) launched an internal investigation in the same year, which resulted in the project being halted. However, the broker Chen (陳) allegedly used his connections to restart the project, with Captain Tsai (蔡) overseeing the new bidding process.

The investigation was spearheaded by Chen Ding-wen (陳鼎文), working in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau and the Agency Against Corruption.

All six defendants face charges under Taiwan's Anti-Corruption Act, relating to bribery and receiving unlawful profits. Prosecutors stated that Yeh (葉) and the broker Chen (陳) face sentences of up to nine years, while Sergeant Chen (陳) faces a potential eight-year sentence. The case highlights the ongoing need for stringent oversight and ethical conduct within the government and its dealings with the private sector, especially concerning renewable energy projects.