Taipei, Taiwan – A former civil engineering professor, Chen Ming-cheng, has been sentenced to two years in prison for falsifying inspection records of bridges in Yilan County. The conviction comes after it was revealed that Chen and his company, Wan Qiao Feng Engineering Technology Consultant, lied about sending qualified personnel to carry out over 500 bridge inspections. These falsified inspections began in 2018 and raised significant concerns about public safety, particularly for the bridges in Yilan’s county and rural highways.
The Yilan District Court, in its verdict released on Thursday, stated that Chen’s actions violated the trust of both the local government and the public, leading to the endangerment of public infrastructure safety. The company’s deceit has raised serious questions about the oversight of civil engineering contractors in Taiwan, especially with regard to the critical role of safety inspections for bridges and other infrastructure.
The Forged Inspections: A Look into the Scandal
In 2018, Wan Qiao Feng Engineering Technology Consultant signed a contract worth NT$11.24 million (around US$346,732) with the Yilan County government to conduct safety inspections on 541 bridges across eight Yilan townships. As per the terms of the contract, the company was required to send qualified personnel to inspect these bridges. However, instead of dispatching the 11 certified engineers listed in the contract, Chen and his company sent 10 unqualified individuals to carry out the inspections. They then falsified the records, reporting that the inspections had been performed by the properly trained and qualified personnel.
This misrepresentation was uploaded to the government’s bridge information management system, a platform designed to track and manage the safety status of Taiwan’s bridges. According to the court’s ruling, the falsification of these reports put public safety at risk, particularly given the crucial nature of bridge safety for transportation and daily life.
Public Safety at Risk: Consequences of the Falsifications
Both Chen Ming-cheng and his ex-student and company co-founder, Chang Tsai-chen, were found guilty of forgery due to their involvement in the falsified inspections. The court emphasized that both individuals, as civil engineering PhDs, understood the potential dangers of sending unqualified personnel to inspect critical infrastructure. Despite this, they chose to proceed with the falsifications, resulting in their conviction. The court noted the defendants’ continued denial of their wrongdoing and lack of remorse, which contributed to the severity of their sentences.
As a result of these actions, the Yilan County government has demanded financial compensation from the company and replaced it with another qualified contractor to handle future inspections.
The Broader Implications: Trust in Engineering and Safety Standards
This case has raised alarm over the integrity of civil engineering contractors and the robustness of Taiwan’s safety inspection processes. Bridge inspections are vital for preventing disasters, as evidenced by the collapse of Yilan’s Nanfang’ao Bridge in 2019, which resulted in the tragic deaths of six people and left 12 others injured. Although Chen’s team had inspected the Nanfang’ao Bridge in 2016, they were not found to be criminally liable for the collapse.
The Yilan District Court ruling has brought attention to the potential weaknesses in the system, calling for a closer look at how safety inspections are conducted and monitored in Taiwan. Public confidence in the integrity of these inspections could be seriously undermined if similar cases are uncovered.
Sentences Handed Down to Defendants
- Chen Ming-cheng: Sentenced to two years in prison for forgery.
- Chang Tsai-chen: Sentenced to one year and ten months in prison for his role in the falsifications.
The verdict can be appealed, but it has nonetheless served as a reminder of the importance of rigorous oversight in the engineering and infrastructure sectors.
Key Information: Case Details and Sentences
| Name | Role | Sentence | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chen Ming-cheng | Former Civil Engineering Professor | 2 years in jail | Falsified over 500 bridge inspection reports for public safety contracts. |
| Chang Tsai-chen | Co-Founder of Wan Qiao Feng Engineering | 1 year and 10 months | Assisted in falsifying inspection data, misleading authorities and the public about bridge safety. |
| Company Involved | Wan Qiao Feng Engineering Technology Consultant | N/A | Contracted for bridge inspections, but dispatched unqualified personnel, submitting false inspection reports. |
| Government Action | Yilan County Transportation Department | Replacement of contractor | The government has replaced the contractor and is seeking compensation from the company. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What was the charge against the former professor and his company?
Chen Ming-cheng and Chang Tsai-chen were charged with forgery after falsifying bridge inspection records for over 500 bridges in Yilan County.
2. How many bridges were affected by the falsified inspections?
A total of 541 bridges in eight Yilan townships were affected by the falsifications.
3. What is the significance of the Nanfang’ao Bridge incident?
The Nanfang’ao Bridge collapsed in 2019, resulting in six fatalities and 12 injuries. Although Chen’s team had inspected the bridge in 2016, they were not found criminally responsible for the collapse.
4. What actions have been taken by the Yilan County government?
The Yilan County government has replaced the company with a new contractor and demanded financial compensation for the falsified inspections.
5. What are the legal consequences for Chen and Chang?
Chen was sentenced to two years in prison, and Chang was sentenced to one year and ten months for their roles in the forgery.
