A Kaohsiung city councilor under investigation for corruption flew to China last night, but vowed to return once he can book a flight back, people familiar with the case said this morning.
Huang Shao-ting (黃紹庭) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and 16 others have been called for questioning in a case involving suspected embezzlement of public funds.
Investigators searched Huang’s residence and office yesterday, but were unable to find the councilor, who turned off his phone and did not attend the Kaohsiung City Council meeting that day.
Photo: Taipei Times
Huang is under investigation for allegedly inflating the fees of publicly funded assistants working in his constituency office, a criminal offense that can lead to a prison sentence.
Huang's parents were also taken in for questioning.
A special case unit this morning said that Huang boarded a flight for China’s Xiamen at 7pm yesterday.
They said they have yet to determine if Huang had already purchased the flight, or if he bought a ticket shortly beforehand.
Huang told the unit that he would return as soon as possible if he can book a flight back.
Considering the timing of his departure and that the councilor was seen “hurriedly” leaving with suitcases earlier that morning, the unit said they do not rule out the possibility that he is fleeing the investigation and might issue a wanted notice if he does not return soon.
The prosecutors’ office said it cannot confirm the report at this time and declined to comment further.
The KMT's Kaohsiung branch said that they "respect the work of the prosecution unit's investigation."
"We appeal to others not to over-interpret the case and wait for the results of the judicial investigation," the party said. "We hope that the judicial authorities will not treat the innocent unjustly or let off the guilty too lightly."
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