David Chou

Chou earned a bachelor's degree in law from Soochow University.[1]

Chou worked as Chen Shui-bian's legislative assistant from 1982 to 1985, and managed the successful 1986 electoral bid of Chen's wife Wu Shu-chen.[2] He served in many high-ranking positions within the Democratic Progressive Party and was a member of the Taipei City Council for two terms prior to his 1992 election to the Legislative Yuan.[3] Within the DPP, Chou belonged to the New Era Institute faction.[4] Chou was opposed to the selection of Annette Lu as Chen Shui-bian's running mate for the 2000 presidential elections.[5] During a portion of Chou's third legislative term, he served as DPP caucus convenor.[6]

Legal proceedings against Chou began in 1988, when Chen Sheng-hung accused Chou of taking NT$16 million in bribes from Chiaofu Construction Corporation.[7] The case was appealed to the Supreme Court in 2003, which refused to hear the case, upholding a guilty verdict issued by the Taiwan High Court.[8] The Supreme Court additionally placed travel restrictions on Chou to prevent him from leaving Taiwan.[9] He resigned from the Legislative Yuan following the Supreme Court decision.[10] Chou began serving his six-year prison sentence at Hualien Prison in February 2003.[11] Chou's first application for parole was rejected in January 2005.[12][13] Weeks later, a second application was submitted, and subsequently approved in June 2005.[14]