Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou approved the resignation of Taiwan' s judiciary chief, Lai In-jaw, on Sunday, amid a corruption scandal involving senior judges and a prosecutor.

Lai said he would resign Friday. He submitted his resignation letter to Ma Saturday.

Ma accepted Lai's resignation after he met with him on Sunday.

"The graft case has had a serious negative impact on Taiwan's judicial prestige. I will take full responsibility," Lai said after his resignation was approved.

Lai resigned after three High Court judges - Chen Jung-ho, Lee Chun-ti and Tsai Kuang-chih - and prosecutor Chiu Mao-jung were taken into custody July 14 for allegedly accepting bribes from a former lawmaker, Ho Chih-hui, in exchange for issuing a not guilty verdict.

Taiwan High Court chief Huang Shui-tung had already tendered his resignation to Lai. Lai said he would approve Huang's resignation as Huang expressed his determination Sunday morning.

The corruption scandal was a reminder of the flaws in Taiwan's judiciary system, according to local experts.

"On the one hand, the case is a result of officials' failing to fulfill their duties and to execute supervision," said Hsu Wen-bin, a renowned attorney in Taiwan, "On the other hand, it stemmed from the lack of a working evaluation and appraisal system for the judges."

He added that a flawed education and on-the-job training system was also to blame.

Taiwan now has about 1,700 judges, all with tenures, according to local civil organizations. Only a handful of them were impeached or receive an official demerit each year.

Wu Duen-yi, head of Taiwan's "Executive Yuan," also said the island would set up an "anti-corruption commission" as soon as possible, in order to more effectively crack down on graft.

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