Prosecutors indict Chen Tsiao-long

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Tsiao-long (陳朝龍) was indicted yesterday for involvement in vote buying, with prosecutors asking for a lengthy sentence.

Chen, who lost his bid for re-election in Taipei County's 12th electoral district on Saturday, was the first legislator indicted for vote buying connected with the elections.

Prosecutors said that since Chen had tried to cover up his alleged vote buying during the investigation and had not cooperated with investigators, prosecutors would ask the Keelung District Court to sentence him to four years and eight months in jail and deprive of his civil rights for five years.

Keelung prosecutors said that because of the reshuffling of districts in this election, Chen had proceeded to bribe voters in Taipei County's Chinshan (金山) and Wanli (萬里) townships -- areas where he did not have strong support.

Prosecutors said that Chen intended to hand out 300 packs of tea to local government heads and supporters in Chinshan and Wanli and had sent 160 tea packs by express mail to local government heads and his supporters during Dragon Boat Festival in May.

Prosecutors discovered the scheme before the election and interviewed 195 individuals who were suspected of having helped him or accepting his gifts.

One of Chen's campaign staffers was also indicted yesterday for the vote buying.

Before the election, Chen was released on NT$300,000 (US$9,000) bail.