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Education chief arrested over vote-buying claims

Chen Kun-shen (陳坤昇), the director of Taitung County Education Bureau was detained by Taitung judges yesterday for illegally treating more than 10 elementary school principals to lunch in return for their support for a county commissioner candidate.

Chiang Wen-chun (江文君), a lead prosecutor at the Taitung District Prosecutors Office yesterday said, "Chen invited more than 10 elementary school principals to dinner after a county baseball tournament. At the dinner, Chen asked the principles to support a candidate running for the upcoming commissioner election next month."

To avoid Chen leaking investigation information to other suspects, prosecutors asked that he be held in custody, Chiang added.

She said the judges had agreed to the detention of Chen yesterday morning.

Although prosecutors declined to name the candidate involved to avoid having any impact on the upcoming election, local media said that Chen was attempting to help Deputy-Commissioner Liu Chuan-hao (劉櫂豪) win the commissioner's post.

Liu is an independent candidate.

Liu yesterday denied asking Chen to help him win the election. "As a former judge, I wouldn't do anything illegal," Liu added.

Chen was arrested at the Taitung County Council building as he finished a session there on Friday afternoon.

According to sources in the local media, Chen was arrested by agents from the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau as he chatted with local reporters at the council.

Chen's arrest has shocked Taitung's political community.

Prosecutors on Friday also summoned the principals who attended the dinner. According to prosecutors, some of them said Chen promised to increase their budgets if Liu was elected.

Prosecutors said Chen had also asked the principals to exert their authorities in their schools to promote Liu.

All of the principals were released after questioning.

Earlier this month, the independent Taitung County Commissioner Hsu Ching-yuan (徐慶元), suddenly announced his withdrawal from the race to support Liu in his run for office.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate, Taitung Council Speaker Wu Chun-li (吳俊立) has criticized Hsu and Liu for using government authorities to promote the election.
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