KMT official released on bail amid vote-buying allegations

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Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Standing Central Committee member Hsiao Ching-tien () was released on NT$8 million (US$260,468) bail on Tuesday after being questioned over allegations that he bought votes to help a KMT candidate win a seat on the Taipei City Council in local elections on November 26 last year.

Taiwan Shilin District Court granted bail after the Shilin District Prosecutor’s Office requested to detain Hsiao and hold him incommunicado, arguing he was at risk of fleeing and may try to destroy or tamper with evidence, or collude with others to do so.

Hsiao, 69, a former lawmaker, reported to the prosecutor’s office earlier on Tuesday, five days after the office issued a warrant for his arrest. He previously defied a summons over an alleged vote-buying on behalf of Lin Hsing-er (), who took office as city councilor on Dec. 25.

Photo: Wen Yu-te, Taipei Times

Prosecutors and investigators involved in the case said they received a tip alleging that Hsiao and one of Lins’ local campaign officials, surnamed Tseng (), sought to buy votes from Village Guard candidates in Lins constituency covering Taipeis Shilin () and Beitou () districts, offering to pay NT$6,000 and NT$10,000 respectively for each of their votes.

Lin won the seat and his victory was confirmed by the Central Election Commission on December 2.

On December 21, the prosecutor’s office searched Hsiaos’ home and other locations. He also summoned Tseng and 32 director candidates for questioning.

Tseng was later released on NT$50,000 bail.

Lin was interviewed by prosecutors on Dec. 28 and is listed as a witness, the office said.

On Friday, prosecutors filed a lawsuit to overturn Lins’ election victory over the vote-buying allegations.

Candidates are also considered to have bought votes if friends, relatives, or campaign office staff sought to bribe others to vote for them, regardless of the source of the bribes. , prosecutors said, citing the Public Officials Election and Recall Act ().

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