Chiayi County prosecutors today searched the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) headquarters in Chiayi City and 10 other locations, summoning 13 suspects for questioning in connection to suspected forgery on a recall petition.
The Chiayi District Prosecutors' Office is investigating the movement to recall Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Mei-hui (王美惠) — who represents a constituency in Chiayi City — over allegations that some signatures on the recall petition were forged.
Prosecutors this morning directed officers from the Chiayi County Investigation Station of the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau to conduct the searches.
Photo: CNA
The leader of the recall movement, a man surnamed Chen (陳), and the KMT chapter’s section chief were among those questioned.
Reporters were unable to contact the KMT’s Chiayi City party chapter chairperson Tsai Ming-hsien (蔡明顯).
In February, Chen formed the group “Love Chiayi Alliance” to lead the recall effort.
The group collected 2,505 signatures in the first stage, 713 of which were deemed invalid by the Central Election Commission.
The first stage petition then exceeded the deadline for submitting supplementary signatures.
As no additional submissions could be made, the movement was unsuccessful.
Allegations then emerged that campaigners signed for people who were deceased, misused personal data and forged signatures without consent.
A 65-year-old woman surnamed Cheng (鄭) and her lawyer in February alleged that Chen had falsified her signature and her personal information had been leaked.
Chen then suspended all operations for the second stage of the recall movement.
In April and May, prosecutors carried out two rounds of searches at Chen’s residence, office and other locations.
In May, Chen was released after questioning on bail of NT$100,000 and was restricted from leaving the country.
The case remains under investigation.
Additional reporting by CNA
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