KMT lawmaker Yan Kuan Heng's (顏寬恆) appeal of a jail sentence has been
rejected.

The Taiwan High Court upheld a lower court's ruling of a prison term of 8
years and 4 months for Yan on corruption and forgery charges.

Yan can still appeal on the corruption part of the sentence, which carries 7
years and 10 months of incarceration.

As the Anti-corruption Act stipulates a three-year suspension of civil rights
for those convicted, he will lose his qualification as a legislator if the
verdict is finalized.

Yan said today that he found the High Court's ruling unacceptable, claiming
judicial persecution and saying he would file an appeal as soon as possible.

Although Yan was acquitted of the charge of encroaching on and selling
state-owned land, the court convicted him of forgery and sentenced him to six
months.

Separately, Yan is believed to have fraudulently claimed over 1 million NT in
assistant fees, which led to corruption charges.

(AH)