Kaohsiung prosecutors yesterday searched Meinung (美濃) Township Chief Chung Shao-hui's (鍾紹恢) home and questioned him and 17 other people over their alleged involvement in vote-buying in the elections for the Meinung's Farmers' Association.
Chung Shao-hui, Meinung Farmers' Association chairman Chu Hsin-chiang (
Prosecutors and investigators early yesterday morning carried out searches and questioned 18 incumbent and former farmers' association members. The agency reported that at least two association representatives had admitted to receiving NT$20,000 from candidates running for membership on the association's board and supervisory positions.
It was also reported that the newly elected board chairman was alleged to have paid NT$600,000 to bribe each of the board members who voted for him.
Township-level farmers' associations have been holding elections since late last month, when association members elected their representatives, the representatives then elected board members and the board members in turn elected a board chairman, who must appoint the association's CEO.
Typically the stakes in any vote-buying become higher as the election process moves on to its later stages.
As of press time the questioning was still underway.
Chung Shao-hui is a brother of People First Party (PFP) Legislator Chung Shao-ho (鍾紹和). The legislator is to run for the seat of Kaohsiung County Commissioner in the election at the end of this year.
PFP Chairman James Soong (
Chung Shao-ho said he believed the prosecutors would find out whether his brother had been involved in any wrongdoing. He also said that the matter had nothing to do with him and would not affect his decision to run for the office of Kaohsiung County Commissioner.
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