Minor party's honorary chair detained in 2nd case of fake polls linked to China

Kaohsiung, Dec. 23 (CNA) Hsu Shao-tung (徐少東), honorary chairman of the For Public Good Party, was detained Friday on suspicion of collaborating with at least three other people to produce fake public opinion polls ahead of Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections next month, according to prosecutors.

In a press release Saturday, the Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office in Kaohsiung said Hsu was questioned and detained in connection with a case of election interference that is currently under investigation and involves a suspected ring of operatives believed to be taking orders from hostile forces in China.

The ring allegedly includes Hsu and his son, as well as the chairpersons of the Charity Railway Mazu group and the Kaohsiung Pastel Association, surnamed Lee (李) and Wang (王), respectively, who have been taking orders from forces in China to build networks among immigrants in Taiwan produce fake polls, according to the prosecutors' office.

Prosecutors said forces in China are believed to be wiring money directly to Hsu's son and Wang, who would then give directives to the others in the ring.

Hsu was suspected of manufacturing fake public opinion polls on the upcoming presidential elections, in collaboration with a new immigrant association that is headed by a woman surnamed Chou (周), prosecutors said.

The fake poll results were were intended to tip scales in favor of a particular presidential candidate ahead of the Jan. 13 elections and were published in the period August to September by the Economic Daily News, the United Daily News, the Match Life net, and the PChome News, the prosecutors' office said.

Hsu is also suspected to be involved in a case involving the organization of a trip to Hunan in China for 60 people from Taitung and Kaohsiung, who were given free accommodation and transportation as a bribe to vote for a particular presidential candidate, prosecutors said.

The case of the Hunan trip was disclosed earlier this month by the prosecutors, who then sought to detain the new immigrant association head Chou and two other suspects, but the court later ruled that they should be released on bail. Prosecutors have appealed that ruling, however, and another court hearing has been scheduled for Monday.

Hsu was questioned Friday and held in detention on suspicion of collaborating with three others -- his son, Wang and Lee -- to produce fake public opinion polls.

Following questioning of the other three suspects in that case, Wang and Lee were released on bail of NT$200,000 and NT$100,000, respectively, while Hsu's son was released with no bail conditions.

It was the second case of fake polls revealed this week, after an online media reporter was held in custody Friday on allegations of publishing eight fake public opinion polls on the upcoming presidential election at the instruction of Chinese officials.

Hsu is an advisor to the new immigrant association and honorary chairman of the minor For Public Good Party, which is known to be a strong advocate of Taiwan's unification with China. A former vice chairman of his party, Hsu was charged with fraud in 2021.