New Taipei City councilor in Taiwan released on bail
In Taiwan, New Taipei City Councilor Yang Chun-mei was released on bail of NT$500,000, or about US$15,700. She was also barred from leaving Taiwan. The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office suspects the politician of distributing laundry detergent and other household goods to voters as part of a suspected vote-buying scheme.
Searches and questioning
As Taipei Times reports, prosecutors searched Yang's residence, her office and other locations. During the searches, they found large stocks of laundry detergent and household goods which, according to investigators, may have been intended for distribution to voters.
Prosecutors questioned 21 people, including Yang herself, two of her assistants and witnesses. According to investigators, the councilor and her two assistants are suspected of offering or providing improper benefits to people eligible to vote in exchange for votes.
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Conditions for assistants
One of the councilor's assistants was released on bail of NT$400,000 and was also barred from leaving Taiwan. The other assistant was released on bail of NT$40,000. The remaining people questioned were released after questioning.
Yang Chun-mei is a New Taipei City councilor from the Kuomintang party and represents the 12th electoral district for Plains Indigenous Peoples. She has served as a councilor for four terms and recently registered to run in local elections, seeking a fifth term.
Taiwanese law does not set a fixed value for a gift after which it is automatically considered voter bribery. Under the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, the key issue is whether a gift was provided as an improper benefit in exchange for specific conduct during voting.
