The director of the Hualien County Civil Affairs Department has been detained, while six other public officials were released on bail today over allegations that the county government illegally sent representatives to people’s homes to verify their identity on a recall petition.
Last night, department Director Ming Liang-chen (明良臻), Deputy Director Wu Chun-yi (吳俊毅) and five other Hualien County Government officials were sent to the Hualien District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning.
The officials have been accused of contravening the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法) and Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法) by verifying recall petitioners’ household information in person.
Photo: Wang Chin-yi, Taipei Times
Prosecutors requested the Hualien District Court to detain Ming and restrict his communication pending a trial.
Wu, who also serves as secretary-general of the Hualien County Election Commission, was released on bail of NT$300,000.
The Hualien City Household Registration Office Director, surnamed Chung (鍾), was released on bail of NT$200,000.
Four other officials, surnamed Wang (王), Tsai (蔡), Hsin (辛) and Chen (陳), were released on bail ranging from NT$20,000 to NT$30,000.
The prosecutors’ office said yesterday that it opened an investigation after receiving evidence reported to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office last month.
A Hualien resident reported that an official claiming to be from the household registration office went to their home to verify their signature on a petition to recall Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁).
Prosecutors yesterday searched the county’s Civil Affairs Department and household registration office, bringing back 12 suspects and witnesses.
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