Tainan mayoral candidate Ye Renwen accused of extorting NT$8 million to help "get elected"

Independent Tainan mayoral candidate Ye Renwen held a press conference today (11th), accusing a citizen named Zhang of demanding up to 8 million yuan last month on the pretext of assisting in election mobilization, and even offered to pay in two stages. This is suspected to involve electoral illegality and huge extortion. He has reported to the anti-election bribery hotline and submitted audio and video and social conversation records to the Tainan District Prosecutor's Office, requesting judicial authorities to intervene in the investigation to clarify whether election crimes are involved.

Reported to the District Attorney's Office

Ye Renwen said that last month, a person surnamed Zhang contacted through a private message on Facebook, claiming that he could assist with election-related matters. The team originally thought he was an enthusiastic supporter, so they arranged to meet and negotiate. Unexpectedly, the other party later asked for 8 million yuan and offered to pay it in two installments, claiming that he could assist in election mobilization and promote the election of candidates.

Ye Renwen believed that the other party used the pretext of election mobilization to ask for a huge sum of money, and the process might involve interference with the election. He immediately reported it to the anti-election bribery hotline. Later, he also sent the relevant audio and video and community conversation records to the Tainan District Prosecutor's Office, hoping that the investigation would quickly find out whether the other party's behavior was illegal and whether there were other accomplices or election crimes behind it.

Ye Renwen emphasized that democratic elections should be based on fairness and impartiality, and vote bribery should not be allowed to interfere. He called on all walks of life to work together to protect clean electoral practices. He also mentioned that a public political opinion briefing will be held soon, and other mayoral candidates will be invited to participate in the debate. Through open policy discussions, voters can understand the city governance concepts of each candidate.