DPP Taipei City councilor detained over alleged corruption

Taipei, Feb. 20 (CNA) The Taiwan Shilin District Court on Thursday overturned its previous decision and ruled to detain Taipei City Councilor Chen E-jun (陳怡君) on Thursday for alleged misappropriation of public funds.

Chen, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), is suspected of fraudulently claiming assistant salaries along with her assistant surnamed Chang (張) between 2019 and 2025, misappropriating over NT$3 million, according to prosecutors.

The court said that Chen holds the position of city councilor and therefore has considerable influence, and is well-acquainted with witnesses involved in the case, with co-defendants defending her. She has also coached her subordinates on how to interact with prosecutors and investigators.

In addition, the court pointed out that there are multiple inconsistencies between statements made by Chen and other witnesses, indicating the need for corroboration with accomplices and witnesses.

The Taiwan Shilin Prosecutors Office initially requested that Chen and her assistant be detained and held incommunicado over concerns of possible collusion with accomplices and witnesses, but Chen was released on bail of NT$1 million (US$30,521) on Feb. 13, while Chang was held incommunicado.

Prosecutors appealed the court decision to the Taiwan High Court, which canceled the ruling and remanded the case back to the district court.

The district court ruled that Chen be detained and held incommunicado on Thursday at 3 p.m.