Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) was released on bail of NT$1 million (US$30,554) early this morning after about 12 hours of questioning.
Lin is under investigation by the Kaoshiung District Prosecutors’ Office on suspicion of fraudulently claiming expenses to pay her assistants.
Investigators yesterday morning searched Lin’s office at the legislature in Taipei and her constituency service office in Kaohsiung before taking her in for questioning.
Photo: Huang Chia-lin, Taipei Times
As Lin was released from the office at about 6am today, she vowed to defend herself.
“Dark forces have chosen this moment to attack my innocence,” she told reporters. “They will not only not break my will, but even bruised and battered, I will stand firm and defend my innocence.”
Although the office has not given a reason for her release, reports said it had “various considerations,” including a need to collect more evidence.
It also emphasized that there is no political interference in the case.
Lin has been a frontrunner in the DPP primary for the Kaohsiung mayoral election next year.
When picked up for questioning yesterday, she shouted to the media claiming that the Judicial Yuan was interfering in the primaries.
While Lin was released, her brother, Lin Tai-jung (林岱融), and two staffers surnamed Wang (王) and Huang (黃) were detained in relation to the case.
Lin is also being probed by prosecutors for abuse of power as she allegedly engaged in activities that constitute a conflict of interest relating to her position as a public servant.
In 2020, Lin Tai-hua reportedly took a senior position on the board of a temple in her constituency in Kaohsiung and exploited her image as a public figure to seek sponsorship from about 20 companies operating in the city's Linyuan Industrial Park.
She allegedly sought out sponsors to help organize public events for the temple, which prosecutors have said is a legal gray area.
When questioned at that time, Lin said the claims came from unsubstantiated and biased reports.
Yesterday, prosecutors conducted searches at the temple and took into custody a member of the temple for questioning.
The temple abbot was also released on bail of NT$1 million yesterday, while Lin Tai-hua's younger sister was released on NT$300,000 bail early this morning.
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