Cash bribes are revealed in the countdown to the election! Rumor has it that "1 vote costs NT$2.3,000", Yunlin village chief was detained and banned from meeting

The Yuanchang Township village chief candidate surnamed Wu was involved in buying votes in cash to seek voters' support for re-election. After the Yunlin District Prosecutor's Office filed an application for a detention ban with the Yunlin District Court, it was approved. (Photo by reporter Li Wende)

As the election campaign enters a critical period, some candidates may take desperate measures and seek support through bribery in various ways. A candidate surnamed Wu in Yuanchang Township, Yunlin, bought votes at a price of 1 to 2 or 3,000 yuan in order to be re-elected. The Yunlin District Prosecutor's Office launched a search yesterday to bring back four people involved in the case. After the interrogation, Wu Nanyi applied to the Yunlin District Court for a detention ban in violation of the election law and was approved.

The Yunlin District Prosecutor's Office recently received information and learned that 59-year-old Wu Nan was suspected of cash bribery. Prosecutor Lin Xiumin assigned Prosecutor Peng Yanru to direct the Beigang Branch of the Yunlin County Police Department to form a task force to investigate. Yesterday, they searched 4 residences of the village chief candidate and voters, and seized a batch of red envelopes, rosters, mobile phones and other items. Wu Nan and three voters were also notified to report to the case.

The prosecutor found that in order to be successfully elected, Wu Nan paid 2 to 3,000 yuan to villagers with voting rights in October and November this year in exchange for their voting support, as a bribery consideration.

The prosecutor stated that after interrogation by prosecutors, they found that the candidate surnamed Wu was involved in Article 99 Paragraph 1 of the Public Election and Recall Act, which is a serious crime of paying bribes to people with voting rights, and there was a risk of annihilating evidence and colluding with witnesses. He applied to the Yunlin District Court for a detention prohibition and was approved. All voters who accepted bribes were asked to return.

Local people pointed out that the candidate is the current senior village chief. Due to the fierce competition in this election, he may face challenges from the same competitor in the next election, so he wants to seek support by buying votes.