《TAIPEI TIMES》 Legislator May Chin indicted on security charges

Independent legislator Gao Jin Sumei (高金 Sumei) and three others were indicted yesterday on national security and corruption charges for allegedly engaging in activities on behalf of Beijing.

Gao Jin Sumei, her former director of the Legislative Office Zhang Junjie (张俊杰), and publicly funded legislative assistants Chen Zhixuan (陈智葳) and Lin Yijun (林伊君) were prosecuted by the Taiwan High Prosecutor's Office for allegedly accepting bribes and violating the National Security Law and the Corruption Crime Ordinance.

Between 2005 and 2016, Zhang Junjie and Chen Zhiqian allegedly coordinated Ko Jin Sumei's campaign, legislative work and Aboriginal community liaison, prosecutors said.

Lin allegedly acted as an intermediary for Gao Jin Sumei and Zhang Junjie, traveling between Taiwan and China to receive instructions from Chinese officials and relay them to others, prosecutors said.

Zhang Junjie allegedly accepted donations from China for infrastructure projects in indigenous communities, while secretly transferring more than NT$170 million (approximately US$5.19 million) in Chinese funds through the accounts of relatives and friends, prosecutors said.

The funds were allegedly used to build organizations on behalf of Chinese government agencies and support Gao Jin Sumei's Lien campaign.

Prosecutors also accused Gao Jin Sumei of acting under Beijing's instructions on major issues such as weapons procurement, cross-strait relations, diplomacy and national defense, and using her status as a legislator to influence the legislative process.

Citing Gao Jin Sumei's alleged lack of remorse and attempts to evade responsibility during the investigation, prosecutors asked the court to sentence him to 14 years in prison.

The prosecutor also requested that Zhang Junjie be sentenced to 15 years in prison, accusing him of serious crimes and trying to avoid prosecution. Zhang Junjie is believed to have fled Taiwan after being released on bail.

Meanwhile, Chen Zhixuan and Lin Yijun confessed during the investigation, returned their illegal gains and detailed the involvement of other defendants, prosecutors said.

In another case in June, the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office indicted Gao Jin Sumei and 23 others on corruption and fraud-related charges, including alleged misappropriation of public funds and importing unapproved COVID-19 testing reagents from China.

The case is pending.

Gao Jin Sumei denied setting up organizations on behalf of the Chinese government or receiving Chinese funds, calling the accusations untrue.

She accused prosecutors of rushing to prosecute her to divert attention from their failure to arrest Chang, who had fled Taiwan.

She also denied that her opposition to weapons purchases and other positions cited in the indictment were directed by Beijing, saying they reflected her long-held views.

She questioned why Chinese funds were needed to ensure reelection after seven consecutive terms and 24 years of visiting indigenous communities and responding to residents' concerns.

Ko Kim Sumei also questioned why, if the alleged crimes occurred between 2005 and 2016, she was under surveillance for more than 20 years but was only charged ten years before the election.

She said she would present evidence in her defense at trial.

The lawmaker also criticized what she described as a growing smear campaign and online accusations labeling opposition figures as pro-China or spies, asking whether such an environment was compatible with democracy, and said she would continue to stand up for her principles.