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.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
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