Nantou County should reject former county commissioner Lin Ming-chen (林明溱) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in the county’s legislative by-election on March 4 because of allegations that he misused government subsidies to help purchase property, the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) candidate and others said yesterday.
Former legislator Tsai Pei-hui (蔡培慧) and other DPP officials made the accusations at campaign stops in Nantou’s Chushan Township (竹山).
“This by-election is crucial for the future of Nantou County. The people need a legislator who has the academic qualifications and experience in the agriculture sector,” Tsai said. “We need a competent lawmaker who will strive to bring economic prosperity and development to the county.”
Photo: CNA
DPP spokeswoman Melody Huang (黃彩玲) said documents show that Lin deceived the public and tax agencies regarding the purchase of a mansion in Nantou City (南投).
Lin made illegal transfers using state subsidies given to elected officials based on the number of votes they garnered, with some of the money used as payments for the mansion and salary for his son, Huang said.
Lin was Nantou county commissioner for two terms from 2014 to last year.
During campaigning, Lin has said that the mansion is worth NT$23 million (US$753,999), despite last year saying it cost less than NT$15 million, Huang said.
“Which is the correct price, or is Lin trying to hide something?” she asked.
Moreover, Lin hired his son as “special assistant” to the commissioner in contravention of laws against nepotism, she said, adding that his son was allegedly paid NT$80,000 per month.
DPP Nantou County Councilor Shen Shu-chen (沈夙崢) said that Lin gave different values for the mansion to evade taxes.
Moreover, documents show that Lin’s wife and son “made political donations” to Lin, with the money coming from Lin’s election subsidy, Shen said.
It was a devious manipulation of money, likely done to evade taxes, she said.
DPP members have evidence showing that Lin used local government funds to organize rallies, Shen said.
During last year’s nine-in-one elections, he gave people gifts while urging them to vote for the KMT’s candidates, which constitutes vote-buying, she said, adding that he should be prosecuted.
“Lin’s words are worthless and he has cheated the public for a long time,” Shen said. “He was caught vote-buying last year, but did not admit it and is yet to offer an apology.”
“Last year, he vowed to complete his commissioner term before contesting a legislative race, so his deception is on full display by running in this by-election,” she added.
Lin did not address the allegations at a news conference later yesterday, instead criticizing Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung’s (陳吉仲) presence in Nantou County.
“There is an egg shortage, but Chen has time to travel to Nantou County to campaign for Tsai,” Lin said. “He should be at his office to work on re-establishing exports to China.”
Lin said that Tsai was a favorite student of Chen’s when he was a researcher.
ANOTHER EMERGES: The CWA yesterday said this year’s fourth storm of the typhoon season had formed in the South China Sea, but was not expected to affect Taiwan Tropical Storm Gaemi has intensified slightly as it heads toward Taiwan, where it is expected to affect the country in the coming days, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. As of 8am yesterday, the 120km-radius storm was 800km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving at 9kph northwest, the agency said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued tonight at the earliest, it said, adding that the storm is projected to be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday. Gaemi’s potential effect on Taiwan remains unclear, as that would depend on its direction, radius and intensity, forecasters said. Former Weather Forecast
As COVID-19 cases in Japan have been increasing for 10 consecutive weeks, people should get vaccinated before visiting the nation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said. The centers reported 773 hospitalizations and 124 deaths related to COVID-19 in Taiwan last week. CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) on Tuesday said the number of weekly COVID-19 cases reported in Japan has been increasing since mid-May and surpassed 55,000 cases from July 8 to July 14. The average number of COVID-19 patients at Japan’s healthcare facilities that week was also 1.39 times that of the week before and KP.3 is the dominant
The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) working group for Taiwan-related policies is likely to be upgraded to a committee-level body, a report commissioned by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said. As Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) is increasingly likely to upgrade the CCP’s Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, Taiwanese authorities should prepare by researching Xi and the CCP, the report said. At the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP, which ended on Thursday last week, the party set a target of 2029 for the completion of some tasks, meaning that Xi is likely preparing to
US-CHINA TRADE DISPUTE: Despite Beijing’s offer of preferential treatment, the lure of China has dimmed as Taiwanese and international investors move out Japan and the US have become the favored destinations for Taiwanese graduates as China’s attraction has waned over the years, the Ministry of Labor said. According to the ministry’s latest income and employment advisory published this month, 3,215 Taiwanese university graduates from the class of 2020 went to Japan, surpassing for the first time the 2,881 graduates who went to China. A total of 2,300 graduates from the class of 2021 went to the US, compared with the 2,262 who went to China, the document showed. The trend continued for the class of 2023, of whom 1,460 went to Japan, 1,334 went to