The head of Hualien Xiulin Village was investigated for election bribery. 17 people were arrested and requested to be detained. In the end, each was released on bail of NT$100,000.

Another election bribery case was reported in Hualien County. The head of Xiulin Village, Xiulin Township, surnamed Zhou, was investigated by the Hualien District Prosecutor’s Office. (Photo by reporter Wang Jinyi)

The local civil servant elections are approaching at the end of the year, and the Hualien District Prosecutor’s Office is investigating election bribery and taking action again! Zhou Xiande, head of Xiulin Village in Hualien County, and his wife Wang, who were approved by the Kuomintang to run for election, are suspected of bribing voters with cash ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 yuan and gifts of mushrooms with a market price of about 100 to 200 yuan. Lin Yingzheng, prosecutor of the Hualien District Prosecutor's Office, directed the police, the Immigration Department and other units to conduct searches and arrest 17 people. After the interrogation, he petitioned the court to detain Mr. Zhou and not see him. The Hualien District Court finally ruled that Mr. Zhou and his wife Wang should be released on bail of 100,000 yuan each.

The Hualien District Prosecutor's Office pointed out today that prosecutors recently received a tip alleging that Xiulin Township village chief candidate Zhou and his wife, Wang, were suspected of bribing votes from villagers with voting rights in their jurisdiction through cash and mushroom gifts in order to be successfully elected this year. On the 1st and 2nd of this month, prosecutor Lin Yingzheng directed the Hualien County Police Xincheng Branch, Ji'an Branch, and the Hualien County Special Task Force of the Ministry of Interior Immigration Department to conduct searches at 5 places including the defendant's residence with search tickets issued by the Hualien District Court. A total of 17 defendants and witnesses were arrested and notified to report to the case.

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After re-examination by the prosecutor, it was found that the defendant Zhou Nan and Wang Daughter were both involved in the serious crime of voting bribery under Article 99, Paragraph 1 of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act. The prosecutor considered the possibility that Mr. Zhou might be colluding with accomplices and witnesses, and applied to the Hualien District Court for a detention ban. After the trial, the judge ordered a bail of 100,000 yuan. His wife, Wang, ordered a bail of 100,000 yuan. The other persons involved in the case and witnesses were asked to be released after the interrogation. Zhou Xiande, the head of Xiulin Township in Xiulin Township, has served as village chief for five terms. The competition in Xiulin Village is fierce this time. A total of four candidates have registered. The Kuomintang has announced that Zhou Xiande and Zhong Yiming can run for the election with Kuomintang membership.

The Hualien District Prosecutor's Office emphasized that the prosecutor's team to investigate election obstruction has been fully activated, and there is absolutely "zero tolerance" for any form of illegal behavior that interferes with the election. Whether it is traditional cash purchase of votes, gifts, or disguised entertainment, travel, catering, etc., the law enforcement team will strictly investigate and deal with it. The prosecutor also called on the public to call the reporting hotline if they discover any suspected vote bribery or election interference. The prosecutor will strictly protect the identity of the reporter and work with the people to maintain a clean, transparent and fair election.