Keelung ward chief held over involvement in China trip case

Taipei, Dec. 16 (CNA) A ward chief in Keelung has been detained as prosecutors investigate his involvement in organizing a recent trip to China at the request of Yantai City government.

The ward chief, identified by his last name Wu (吳), is suspected of having organized and led a tour group to Shandong Province from Nov. 21-26 with the help of another individual surnamed Kuo (郭), the Keelung District Prosecutors Office said in a news release Friday.

The visit, which came at the request of the Yantai People's Government Taiwan Affairs Office, comprised 33 people that included Wu and several Keelung ward chiefs as well as their relatives, prosecutors said.

The trip cost NT$5,500 (US$175.36) per person, while all other expenses in China, including transportation, food and accommodation were covered by their host, prosecutors said, indicating that each individuals was also reimbursed 1,000 Chinese yuan at the end of the trip.

During their time in Shandong, prosecutors said the visitors also met with the head and deputy chief of the Yantai office, who suggested they should vote for a "certain political party" in Taiwan's upcoming Jan. 13 presidential and legislative elections.

Raids were carried out at five different locations in Keelung on Wednesday, during which 29 people, including Wu and Kuo, were questioned over their involvement in the case.

After questioning, a request to have Wu detained was later granted by Keelung District Court on Thursday to prevent him from fleeing the country and destroy evidence, prosecutors said.

However, the news release did not cite the specifics of the case, saying only Wu is being investigated for suspected contravention of the Anti-Infiltration Act and the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election and Recall Act, while Kuo was subsequently released on NT$100,000 bail after questioning.

Elsewhere, separate incidences involving multiple ward chiefs in Taipei and Changhua who allegedly also accepted free trips to China are currently also under investigation by prosecutors. According to authorities, the cases are all related to Taiwan's upcoming elections and alleged election interference by China.

The suspects numbering in the dozens were called in for questioning by prosecutors this week, although no charges have yet been filed.