Lin Zi-miao Maintains Innocence on First Day of Trial 涉弊案今開庭 林姿妙稱認真做事.清白

Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao's land corruption trial opened on Oct. 31. Lin continued to maintain her innocence while the other defendants in the case declined to speak to reporters.

Lin Zi-miao, Yilan County Magistrate: “Thank you everyone. (Reporter: “Are you confident? What happened in court today?”) I'm innocent.”

Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao has maintained her innocence from the beginning. On the 31st, she and her daughter Lin Yi-ling, and 10-plus county officials attended the first session of the land sale corruption trial.

Lin Zi-miao, Yilan County Magistrate: “I lead a very simple life and I work hard. I'm innocent. Thank you.”

Kuo Mei-chun, Lin Yi-ling's Lawyer: “(Reporter: “What did you prepare today?”) Questioning witnesses and briefs. (Reporter: “Are you confident?”) Yes. There is no evidence of crimes my client has been accused of.”

Lin Yi-ling's lawyer expressed confidence in the case while saying the prosecution lacks evidence to back up the indictment. Most of the defendants left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

Huang Cheng-ting, Councilor: “(Reporter: “Councilor, are you here to attend court today?”) Yes, thank you.”

A number of county councilors attended the session. Former lawmaker Huang Kuo-chang, who was also present, said he wanted to see if county officials would change their stories and that the Taiwan Anti-corruption and Whistleblower Protection Association would be following the case closely.

Huang Kuo-chang, Former Legislator: “I hope to see Magistrate Lin Zi-miao and other county government officials in court today, because these officials have already admitted their guilt. When court opens today, will they continue to admit they are guilty?”

Over 70 police officers were sent to the courthouse to maintain order after the KMT called on supporters to go to the courthouse to follow proceedings, but their presence was not needed.
 

宜蘭縣長林姿妙說：「謝謝大家關心。」記者詢問：「縣長有信心嗎？今天開庭有什麼要說的嗎？」 林姿妙回應：「我清清白白。」

步入法庭，被記者問到是否有信心？宜蘭縣長林姿妙稱自己清清白白，她與女兒林羿伶及縣府團隊等10多人，涉及土地貪瀆等弊案，遭檢方起訴，宜蘭地方法院31日首度召開程序準備庭。

宜蘭縣長林姿妙再次強調：「我簡單做人，認真做事，清清白白，謝謝大家。」

記者問：「今天有準備什麼嗎？」林羿伶律師郭美春表示：「答辯狀啊、簡報檔啊。」 記者追問：「有信心嗎？」郭美春回應：「有，不存在的犯罪事實。」

林羿伶的委任律師聲稱，準備了答辯狀與簡報檔等資料，表示對案子有信心，反倒質疑檢方的起訴內容，是不存在的犯罪事實，林羿伶與多位縣府官員步入法庭，則一言不發。

記者詢問：「議員今天來主要是旁聽嗎？」國民黨議員黃琤婷簡短回應：「是，謝謝。」

有部分國民黨、民進黨的黨員，先後到法庭旁聽，前立委黃國昌也到場旁聽，他說希望在法庭上，關心縣府的同仁是否繼續認罪，還是有其它說法，這起案件，他們公益揭弊暨吹哨者保護協會，持續追蹤。

前立委黃國昌表示：「那今天也希望在法庭上面，看林姿妙縣長以及縣府其他的同仁，因為有些同仁他們已經認罪了，今天開庭的時候，是不是會繼續認罪？」

由於國民黨在開庭前，曾號召民眾到地院關心此案，黃國昌表示，因此應邀到場，法院現場，警力出動約70名，維持秩序，僅少數民眾未經申請，到場關心此案，卻不得其門而入，但未引發爭端。