Taipei, Feb. 1 (CNA) Former justice minister Liao Cheng-hao (廖正豪) died on Monday at the age of 75 at a hospital in Taipei due to illness.
Liao died at Cheng Hsin General Hospital on Lunar New Year's Eve, Kuomintang Legislator Yeh Yu-lan (葉毓蘭) confirmed to CNA Tuesday, after news surfaced that Liao had passed away.
Liao was best known for his tough crackdowns on organized crime, which won him wide public support during his tenure as justice minister from 1996-1998.
Having graduated from National Taiwan University's College of Law, Liao served as the deputy head of the now-abolished Government Information Office and later on as Deputy Director-General of the Executive Yuan.
He then served as Director-General of the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau from 1995-1996, becoming the first head of the investigation bureau who did not come from an intelligence background.
During his time at the bureau, Liao cracked a number of high-profile cases, including a police corruption case involving a gambling arcade tycoon Chou Jen-shen (周人蔘) and several high-ranking police officials.
In 1996, Liao was named Minister of Justice, and was known for his sweeping crackdowns on organized crime, which involved politicians as well as big names in local gangs. His approval rating reached as high as 96 percent during his tenure as justice minister.
After stepping down from the position in 1998, he faded from the political scene, set up a foundation to help youth and former prisoners, and devoted his time to law and religious exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.
