Taiwan set up a new anti-corruption agency Wednesday in the wake of a series of graft scandals involving officials, politicians and judges.

The new agency, under the island's judicial department, is made up of 240 officials with Chou Chih-jung as its director-general.

Chou had worked for the judicial department and had taken part in the investigation of several serious graft cases as a prosecutor.

The agency is expected to prevent corruption and improve the conviction rate of graft cases, said Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan's regional leader, at the inauguration ceremony.

There were discussions on whether to set up a special anti-graft agency in Taiwan modeled on Hong Kong, where the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has proved to be efficient.

Some argued that the new agency might duplicate the functions of other existing investigation agencies.

Taiwan authorities announced the decision to establish the anti-graft agency in last July following a series of graft scandals among judges and police officers.

Early this month, the island was shocked again as several senior customs officials were arrested for bribery cases.

Taiwan's former leader Chen Shui-bian has been serving his term for corruption and money laundering convictions. Last month, his predecessor, Lee Teng-hui, was also indicted by prosecutors for embezzling public funds of 7.79 million U.S. dollars during his tenure.