Three Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) staff members from its New Taipei City chapter were today brought in for questioning by prosecutors in connection with allegedly falsified signatures in a recall campaign.
Raids were carried out on the New Taipei office and the residences of the three individuals this morning, following the launch of an investigation into reports of falsified personal information on recall petitions targeting ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers.
Two of the staff were from the KMT’s office in Banciao District (板橋), secretary-general Chen Chen-jung (陳貞容) and secretary Chu Pei-yi (朱蓓儀), with the third being Sanchong District (三重) office executive director Lo Ta-yu (羅大宇), the KMT New Taipei chapter said in an official statement.
Photo: Tung Kuan-yi, Taipei Times
Chen and Chu were taken from their homes, along with computers and other evidence, by investigators this morning, Huang Chih-hsiung (黃志雄), head of the KMT New Taipei City chapter, said.
The party has already arranged legal assistance for them, Huang added.
KMT New Taipei City caucus secretary-general Wang Wei-yuan (王威元) called the search “political retaliation.”
The raids took place soon after Saturday’s protest rally in Taipei organized by the opposition, strongly implying that these searches are a warning, Wang added.
The KMT respects the rule of law, the chapter said, although it called for impartial and law-abiding investigations.
The nationwide searches seem to be politically directed, Huang said, although he expressed respect for the judicial process.
Authorities should avoid unlawful investigative tactics that could intimidate citizens and undermine political expression, Huang added.
Meanwhile, prosecutors in Keelung conducted a separate search of a KMT office today in connection with another case involving allegedly fake signatures in a recall campaign targeting two DPP city councilors, Cheng Wen-ting (鄭文婷) and Jiho Chang (張之豪).
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