Tsao indicted for bribery

The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office yesterday indicted Kaohsiung City Councilor Tsao Ming-hui (曹明輝) for the charge of bribery during last year's Kaohsiung city councilor election, which carries a suggested eighteen-month prison sentence.

"Tsao is a bad role model as a city councilor. He has caused damage to the democratic system. Additionally, he never admitted to his offense even though this case is clear-cut," the indictment said.

Kaohsiung prosecutors also indicted 14 of Tsao's vote captains and supporters, who allegedly accepted his bribes, with suggested sentences ranging from six months to one year in jail.

In addition, another 49 vote captains and supporters of Tsao's had their charges suspended because they confessed their crimes and cooperated with prosecutors, enabling them to uncover further evidence.

Tsao's bribery offense was first made public when his wife Chung Su-mei (鐘素梅) allegedly bought votes for him by paying NT$1,000 to each voter. Tsao was summoned to court on Dec. 8 last year.

Tsao, representing the Aboriginal community, won the single city council seat with 739 votes on Dec. 7.

According to the law, city councilors are immune from prosecution during the legislative session.

The current session, which began on March 31, will not be concluded until June 6. As a result, Tsao cannot be jailed immediately if he is convicted during that period.