Suspended Hsinchu mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) is to return to her post tomorrow, the Hsinchu City Government said today, after the High Court found her not guilty of embezzling assistant fees.
The city government at 4pm today confirmed that it had received a letter of reinstatement from the Ministry of the Interior.
Kao also told reporters that she had received the notice, and would report to work at Hsinchu City Hall tomorrow morning.
Photo: Hung Mei-hsiu, Taipei Times
The city government yesterday applied to the ministry for Kao’s reinstatement shortly after the High Court acquitted the mayor of corruption charges.
Her sentence was reduced to six months in prison commutable to a fine, down from seven years and four months issued in the first ruling by the Taipei District Court.
While acquitted of the corruption charge, she was still found guilty of causing a public official to commit document forgery.
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said it is reviewing the ruling and considering whether to appeal.
Prosecutors alleged that Kao inflated assistant salaries and overtime pay claims, obtaining NT$116,514 in illicit gains while serving as a legislator for the Taiwan People’s Party from Feb. 1, 2020, to Dec. 25, 2022.
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