Two days before Taiwan heads to the polls, there were 3,287 cases of election obstruction under investigation, including 117 involving outside Chinese interference, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office data showed on Friday.
As of Thursday, 3,548 people were under investigation in 3,287 cases, resulting in 46 detentions and 93 indictments of 76 people, the office said.
The amount of money seized from election betting, bribery and other illegal proceeds totaled more than NT$45.11 million (US$1.45 million), setting a new record, it said.
Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei Times
Election betting was the most common form of interference with 1,284 people under investigation in 1,430 cases, it said, adding that unlike traditional gambling, use of cryptocurrencies with obscure betting pools has become more common.
There were 353 cases of attempting to obstruct an election through false information with 335 people under investigation, including cases involving foreign online influence operations, the office said.
Many types of foreign interference have emerged this election cycle, including 287 people suspected of contravening the Anti-infiltration Act (反滲透法) in 117 cases, it said.
The first person charged under the act this election cycle was China Pan-Blue Association member Chen Chih-cheng (鄭志成) on suspicion of recruiting people for sponsored tours to China in an indictment handed down on Dec. 25.
There was also the first suspected case of a candidate accepting payment via cryptocurrency from China, with a court approving the detention of former Taiwan People’s Party Taoyuan chapter spokeswoman Ma Chih-wei (馬治薇) for allegedly receiving thousands of US dollars in tether and cash.
Additional reporting by CNA
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
Taiwan is concerned that China could exploit the US’ war in the Middle East, with state media citing examples from the conflict to cast doubt on the efficiency of US weapons Taiwan would use to repel an invasion. Taiwanese officials said the resumption of Beijing’s large-scale air force incursions near Taiwan after an unusual decline show that China wants to take advantage of the redeployment of US forces from East Asia to the Middle East. “This is a moment for China to exercise influence,” a senior Taiwanese security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “What China is trying to create is a
RSS