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United Daily News / Reporters Cao Minji, Chen Kunfu / Lianxian Report
January 12, 2010, 03:18 AM
Zhuang Yaosen, a psychiatrist at the Pingtung Hospital under the Department of Health, was accused of accepting over NT$580,000 in bribes from pharmaceutical companies during his tenure as head of the psychiatry department. He argued that he was not a public official, but the judge condemned his mindset as reprehensible, sentencing him to eight and a half years in prison for corruption, stripping him of civil rights for four years, and ordering the full confiscation of the bribes.
The judge harshly criticized Zhuang Yaosen, stating that if doctors at public hospitals are not considered public officials, then teachers at public schools could also deny being public servants and accept bribes without legal consequences. This would mean doctors could decide patients' fates based on the size of red envelopes, and teachers could determine their dedication to students based on bribe amounts.
Zhuang Yaosen (50) still works in the psychiatry department at Pingtung Hospital but no longer serves as its head. He declined to comment on the verdict. The hospital stated it would address Zhuang’s employment status after receiving the official judgment.
The ruling revealed that Pingtung Hospital procured seven commonly used psychiatric drugs, and Zhuang demanded kickbacks of NT$5,100 to NT$7,100 from pharmaceutical companies for every 4,500 to 6,500 pills prescribed. During his time as department head from March 2005 to June 2006, Zhuang received a total of NT$584,720 in bribes before being uncovered by the Investigation Bureau.
Zhuang claimed he was not involved in handling or supervising drug procurement and never solicited or accepted bribes, arguing that public hospital doctors are not public officials and thus not subject to corruption charges. However, the judge noted that Zhuang instructed pharmaceutical companies to deposit bribes into third-party accounts, implicating him not only in corruption but also in money laundering.
Source: http://udn. com/ NEWS/ SOCIETY/ SOC6/ 5360448. shtml
Doctors Taking Bribes Claim "Not Public Servants"
January 12, 2010, 03:18 AM
Zhuang Yaosen, a psychiatrist at the Pingtung Hospital under the Department of Health, was accused of accepting over NT$580,000 in bribes from pharmaceutical companies during his tenure as head of the psychiatry department. He argued that he was not a public official, but the judge condemned his mindset as reprehensible, sentencing him to eight and a half years in prison for corruption, stripping him of civil rights for four years, and ordering the full confiscation of the bribes.
The judge harshly criticized Zhuang Yaosen, stating that if doctors at public hospitals are not considered public officials, then teachers at public schools could also deny being public servants and accept bribes without legal consequences. This would mean doctors could decide patients' fates based on the size of red envelopes, and teachers could determine their dedication to students based on bribe amounts.
Zhuang Yaosen (50) still works in the psychiatry department at Pingtung Hospital but no longer serves as its head. He declined to comment on the verdict. The hospital stated it would address Zhuang’s employment status after receiving the official judgment.
The ruling revealed that Pingtung Hospital procured seven commonly used psychiatric drugs, and Zhuang demanded kickbacks of NT$5,100 to NT$7,100 from pharmaceutical companies for every 4,500 to 6,500 pills prescribed. During his time as department head from March 2005 to June 2006, Zhuang received a total of NT$584,720 in bribes before being uncovered by the Investigation Bureau.
Zhuang claimed he was not involved in handling or supervising drug procurement and never solicited or accepted bribes, arguing that public hospital doctors are not public officials and thus not subject to corruption charges. However, the judge noted that Zhuang instructed pharmaceutical companies to deposit bribes into third-party accounts, implicating him not only in corruption but also in money laundering.
Source: http://udn. com/ NEWS/ SOCIETY/ SOC6/ 5360448. shtml