Legislator and Hsinchu mayor-elect Ann Kao (高虹安) and her boyfriend, Lee Chung-ting (李忠庭), were yesterday questioned by investigators, while a search was conducted at her legislative offices in Taipei and other locations, as part of a judicial probe into alleged wage fraud, illegal payroll deductions and embezzlement of public funds.
Five former and current staffers of the Taipei People’s Party (TPP) legislator were also questioned by Investigation Bureau officials in New Taipei City.
The investigation began last month after a whistle-blower, reportedly a former staffer, filed a complaint at the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office against Kao, then running for the TPP in the Hsinchu mayoral election.
Photo: CNA
Staffers had to pay part of their wages into a “common fund,” which Kao used for personal expenses, while some of the money was also transferred to the TPP’s coffers, the whistle-blower said.
Investigators at about 9:30am searched Kao’s offices in the legislature’s Chunghsing Building and subpoenaed the office’s wage payment records.
Chen Huan-yu (陳奐宇), who heads Kao’s office, was also questioned, as well as former deputy office head Chen Yu-kai (陳昱愷), former office publicity and media liaison head Wang Yu-wen (王郁文), and two former assistants, Huang Hui-wen (黃惠玟) and Wu Ta-wei (吳達偉).
Kao and Lee were served summonses in Hsinchu City, from where they were taken to the Investigation Bureau branch office in New Taipei City.
Kao is to be sworn in as Hsinchu mayor on Dec. 25. She has been urged to step down as a legislator-at-large since she began her campaign, especially after her mayoral run began to be mired in controversy.
Political commentators have said she might seek to serve in the legislature until she assumes office as mayor, which would grant her continuous immunity.
It is unusual for politicians holding offices that grant them immunity to be faced with probes that involve searches at their premises.
Kao, Lee and her staffers might face charges under the Anti-Corruption Act (貪汙治罪條例), prosecutors have said, adding that she might also face charges related to pressuring people to give false testimony and interfering with a judicial investigation.
Kao allegedly asked staffers to tell investigators that the deductions were voluntary.
Legislative Yuan Secretary-General Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉) and Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?) confirmed that the search had been conducted after investigators filed a written request.
“We are a nation that upholds rule of law,” You said. “Even the judiciary must comply with the required procedures.”
The prosecutors provided “sufficient reason” for the search, he added.
As of press time last night, a decision on whether Kao and Lee would be detained was pending.
Mayors-elect are legally required to be sworn in within three months after the planned date for them to assume office.
If that is not possible, for example because they are in detention, a by-election would be held to fill their position.
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