Yilan Zhuangwei Township mayor candidate Zhang Jiahao was detained for bribery. His wife Zhang Peiying issued a statement defending her innocence.

In the face of Zhang Jiahao's judicial storm, his wife Zhang Peiying and the campaign team issued a formal statement today.

Zhang Jiahao, a Kuomintang candidate for the mayor of Zhuangwei Township in Yilan, was detained for bribery, which impacted the election. Facing the judicial storm, his wife Zhang Peiying and the campaign team issued a formal statement this afternoon, emphasizing that in the face of the current procedures, the team absolutely respects the judiciary and believes in objective evidence. Subsequent relief will be provided in accordance with the law, hoping to clarify the truth and defend innocence. "The campaign team will operate normally and continue to serve the folks!"

Zhang Peiying earnestly appealed in the statement that detention is only a compulsory procedure during the investigation process and definitely does not represent the final guilty verdict. She implores all Zhuangwei folks who care about Zhang Jiahao to remain rational at this difficult time and not to believe or spread unverified local rumors. The team will stand firm and face it bravely.

Zhang Peiying earnestly appealed in the statement that detention is only a compulsory procedure during the investigation process and definitely does not represent the final guilty verdict. She implores all Zhuangwei folks who care about Zhang Jiahao to remain rational at this difficult time and not to believe or spread unverified local rumors. The team will stand firm and face it bravely.

The statement simultaneously declared that Zhang Jiahao’s original intention to serve the local area remains unchanged. Although it is temporarily unable to vote in person, the campaign team will still maintain normal operations and continue to serve the villagers on the front line. It reiterated that judicial matters will be left to the judiciary to clarify. This election should be returned to the right track and let policies, capabilities and local substantive construction determine the decision.

Looking back at the case, Zhang Jiahao is the current chief secretary of the Zhuangwei Township Office. The investigation recently found that he was suspected of distributing sake gift boxes to seek support at the beginning of this year. Because he was accompanied by physical evidence such as communication software conversation records, the prosecutor found that he was involved in soliciting or delivering bribes as a serious crime, and was allowed to be arraigned in court.

The next mayor of Zhuangwei Township is in a situation where four are competing for one, and the sudden detention affects the election situation. At the end of the statement, Zhang Peiying and his team thanked the folks for their care and support along the way, emphasized their firm stance of "respecting justice, defending innocence; steady pace and unchanged service", and vowed to work with supporters to overcome this difficulty.