KMT candidate Zhang Jiahao, candidate for mayor of Zhuangwei township, was detained for bribery by sending alcohol and business cards

Zhang Jiahao, a Kuomintang candidate for Zhuangwei township mayor, was detained by the court for bribery after giving away wine and pasting business cards. (File photo)

Zhang Jiahao, a Kuomintang candidate for the mayor of Zhuangwei Township in Yilan County and the current chief secretary of the office, was reported for allegedly "delivering wine" privately before and after a dinner meeting with village elders for the second time and posting the chief secretary's business card to seek support. The Yilan District Prosecutor's Office yesterday (9th) directed the prosecutors to deploy troops in multiple directions, conduct a large-scale search of 23 places, and summon 22 people to the case. After an overnight retrial, the prosecutor determined that Zhang was involved in a serious crime of bribery for voting in violation of the Public Employee Election and Removal Act, and that there was a risk of collusion with evidence. He was arrested in court and requested a detention ban. The Yilan District Court held a detention court this morning and ruled to allow his detention.

Prosecutor Huang Mingzheng yesterday directed the Yilan County Investigation Station of the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau and the Yilan County Government Police Station to form a task force. Armed with a search ticket issued by the Yilan District Court, they went to 23 locations including the Zhuangwei Township Office and Zhang Jiahao's residence to conduct searches. They seized multiple "gold foil sake gift boxes" and other key exhibits on site, and brought back 22 people involved and witnesses to clarify the case, most of whom are current township representatives and village chiefs.

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It is understood that Zhang Jiahao privately donated wine to the village chief and local representatives before and after dinner parties in September last year and February this year. At that time, he had publicly planned to run for the next township chief. Although the outer packaging had the business card of the chief secretary, he was still prosecuted. The market price of the sake gift box is about 680 yuan. In addition, the investigation also obtained information indicating whether a dinner party in September this year involved the use of public funds to exchange for electoral support. The task force is expanding its investigation to clarify.

After the whole case was interrogated overnight by prosecutors Huang Mingzheng, Zhang Liyan and Lin Yuhong, this morning it was determined that Zhang was guilty of a serious crime of voting bribery under Article 99, Item 1 of the "Public Servants Election and Recall Law", and that there was a risk of colluding with accomplices and witnesses. He was arrested and detained in court, and the remaining 21 people were sent back.

The next Zhuangwei township chief election is highly competitive, with a situation of "four to one". Zhang Jiahao, the chief secretary who has served in the township office for 16 years, successfully qualified for the nomination within the Kuomintang and completed registration; the other contenders include one person with Democratic Progressive Party membership and two people without party membership. Now that Zhang is being detained for delivering alcohol and being involved in bribery, this will undoubtedly drop a shock bomb for the local elections at the end of the year.

☆Excessive drinking is harmful to health. Drunk driving is prohibited☆

It is advisable to inspect and seize key evidence such as multiple "wine gift boxes" sent by Zhang Jiahao. (Provided by Yilan Prosecutor’s Office)

Zhang Jiahao was taken into custody. (Photo by reporter Wang Junqi)