The director-general of the Taiwan Disability Care Association was detained incommunicado this morning on suspicion of embezzling more than NT$38 million (US$1.12 million) of public funds and charitable donations, the Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office said in a news release.
Three people, including association director-general Chen Pin-chun (陳品君) and executive director Hsiao Wei-ting (蕭瑋葶), have been detained incommunicado for two months, it said.
They are accused of misappropriating public charitable donations since 2022 and transferring the funds for personal use such as buying real estate, it said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Prosecutors said they had yesterday directed the Taipei branch of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau to conduct searches of four locations: the association’s office in New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋), and the residences of Chen, Hsiao and a relative of Hsiao who is named as the third suspect.
Authorities seized accounting documents, transaction records and computer hard drives, the office said.
Prosecutors brought the three suspects and an additional witness in for questioning, following which they filed for their detention, which was granted by a court early this morning, it said.
They have been detained on suspicion of embezzling public funds, money laundering, aggravated fraud and forging private documents in contravention of the Criminal Code and the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), it added.
The incommunicado order was given due to the seriousness of the allegations, and as the three are at risk of flight, collusion, reoffense and destroying evidence, it said.
Founded in 2011, the association overseen by the Ministry of Health and Welfare is tasked with supporting families with disabilities.
The association aims to help people with disabilities showcase their talents and live with confidence and dignity, according to its mission statement.
Its initiatives include milk and fruit donations, and running activities to promote exercise.
Additional reporting by CNA
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