Wang Jin-pyng to temporarily keep KMT member rights

TAIPEI - A local court in Taipei ruled on Friday afternoon that ousted Kuomintang (KMT) member and head of Taiwan's legislative body Wang Jin-pyng may maintain his rights as a KMT member for now before a final court ruling regarding his KMT membership.

A KMT disciplinary meeting on Wednesday resulted in the decision to withdraw Wang's party membership after he was suspected of involvement in an illegal lobbying scandal.

Wang appealed for an injunction of the punishment after the decision, and the court ruled that Wang may keep his rights as a KMT member until the final ruling on condition that he pay 9.38 million New Taiwan Dollars (about $315,000) as a collateral deposit.

The KMT said it plans to appeal the injunction next week.