Today, the Changhua District Prosecutor's Office directed investigators from the investigation station to summon nearly 20 people to the case in multiple directions to explain that a dinner party took place in the activity space on the first floor of the new county council building on the evening of June 23 this year. To clarify whether the dinner party was related to the election? Was vote buying involved? Among the people called for explanation were Changhua Speaker Xie Dianlin and his father, Xie Xinlong, known locally as "Dr. Xie." This afternoon, when Changhua County Magistrate Wang Huimei attended an event at the Changhua County Police Department, she was asked by reporters what she thought of the speaker's explanation after being notified of prosecution. After hearing this, she was stunned for a moment, and then she bent down at an almost 90-degree angle, nodded and said "thank you", unwilling to say any more.
Wang Huimei has three public schedules today, two in the morning and one in Changhua City in the afternoon. She attended the "Changhua Police Win Three Crowns and Defend Beautiful Changhua! Press Conference on Anti-Fraud and Anti-drug Achievements" held by the Changhua County Police Department at the General Bureau Auditorium, praising the sub-bureaus and police officers for their contributions in solving the case, and affirming the police team's outstanding performance in maintaining public security.
After awarding the award, when she was about to leave the venue, she was asked by reporters what she thought about Speaker Xie Dianlin being called up to the mountain (referring to the Changhua County Investigation Station) to ask and explain during the election? She paused and just replied "thank you" without saying anything more.
The entire incident began on July 2 this year. Wu Yinning, deputy executive director of the Central Joint Service Center of the Executive Yuan, posted on Facebook, referring to local rumors that Xie Dianlin had launched a "treat guests to dinner" election model, opened more than 10 tables at the county council seat, and assisted Chen Zhenfei, a cousin of the Kuomintang candidate for mayor of Xihu Town, in the election. Wu Yinning questioned whether the source of the banquet expenses that day violated the election and recall law for public officials.
However, immediately after Wu Yinning made the accusation, Xie Dianlin responded that the Changhua County Council belongs to all Changhua County residents. The door of the council has always been open. Folks and friends are welcome to enter the council and get to know the council. He also hopes that the council will become a place for everyone to communicate and care about public affairs.
The Speaker's Service Office also said at the time that the cost of the meal that day was borne by the Service itself, and no special expenses for the Speaker, parliamentary budget or other official funds were used. The day was mainly for people from the Xihu area to have a meal and exchange after visiting the parliament. The Changhua County Council has always been open to people from all walks of life, regardless of party affiliation. The service office emphasized that the event was not an election campaign, nor was it an election model of treating guests to dinner. It was just a simple local exchange. We hope that the outside world can view it from an objective perspective to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
