Judicial agencies yesterday said they are investigating Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Legislator Ann Kao (高虹安) over allegations of pocketing her assistants’ wages, accepting illegal political donations and other corrupt practices.
Kao is running for Hsinchu City mayor in the Nov. 26 local elections.
The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) said that it has interviewed persons of interest and is assessing materials related to the case.
Photo: CNA
Bureau officials pledged to remain impartial and neutral as tensions rise in the run-up to the elections.
The Hsinchu District Prosecutors’ Office separately said it has launched its own investigation after receiving complaints relating to the case.
Hsinchu City Councilor Lin Keng-jen (林耕仁), the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) Hsinchu mayoral candidate, provided most of the materials against Kao, saying they were passed on to him by whistle-blowers from within the TPP and people familiar with Kao’s legislative office.
Lin has said that Kao hired Lee Chung-ting (李忠庭), her reported boyfriend, as an assistant, even though he held another high-paying job at the same time.
Lee had an annual salary of NT$6 million (US$188,070), receiving NT$500,000 in monthly payments from the Yonglin Foundation, Lin said, citing whistle-blowers.
The foundation is a charity organization funded and managed by Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) and his wife, Delia Tseng (曾馨瑩).
A Mirror Media magazine report on the materials provided by whistle-blowers said that Kao’s office assistants transferred part of their salaries and overtime wages to Kao’s private account.
The money was used to pay for meals, banquets for political figures, drinks and snacks for the office, as well as Kao’s hair salon visits and personal shopping, Mirror Media said.
Lin accused Kao of wage fraud, as Lee was working at another job, but still received an assistant’s wage and claimed nearly maximum overtime pay each month.
Kao and Lee allegedly used public funds for private use, Mirror Media reported, citing whistle-blowers.
They could face charges of contravening the Political Donations Act (政治獻金法) and conflict of interest for allegedly accepting financial contributions to push for legal amendments in favor of Hon Hai, it said.
Lin yesterday reportedly canceled a plan to visit the MJIB’s office in New Taipei City to present more evidence, after the KMT leadership asked him to stop “attacking” Kao.
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), who is also the TPP’s chairman, said Lin canceled the visit because he wanted to backpedal from “bogus information” and had come under political pressure.
“Lin’s smear campaign against Kao has gone too far and has been done in poor taste. He should first prove that the information is correct and must reveal the source of the information,” Ko said.
Lin said that as a mayoral candidate, he has the right to question allegations of corruption and illegal activity by another candidate, which is for the good of Hsinchu City residents.
Following the allegations, Kao checked herself into a hospital for treatment on Tuesday night and canceled yesterday’s campaign activities.
Kao left the hospital later in the day and was photographed during a meeting with KMT Hsinchu County Commissioner Yang Wen-ko (楊文科) and United Microelectronics Corp honorary deputy chairman John Hsuan (宣明智), who has been backing Kao.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
Taiwan Travelogue (臺灣漫遊錄), which earlier this week became the first Taiwanese novel to win the International Booker Prize, is to be adapted into a television series through a Taiwan-Japan coproduction, producer Chang Chen-yu (張辰漁) said yesterday. Chang, a producer at World Softest Production Film Co, wrote on Facebook that the company had been searching for projects with international appeal that retain a strong Taiwanese identity after colleagues and Japanese partners strongly recommended the novel. After reading the book, Chang said he immediately decided to pursue the screen rights. “A great story has the power to transcend time and borders, and connect countless people,”
RSS