DPP lawmaker released on NT$1 million bail in fraud probe

Kaohsiung, Feb. 21 (CNA) Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was released on NT$1 million (US$30,526) bail on Friday by the Taiwan Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office amid a corruption investigation.

Lin is restricted from leaving the country, taking boat trips, and required to reside at her current residence or a designated location, according to the prosecutors office.

Prosecutors initially searched Lin's legislative and local offices on Thursday as part of an investigation into allegations the lawmaker filed fraudulent claims for assistants' salaries.

The searches were carried out simultaneously by prosecutors in Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Lin is also being probed by prosecutors for abuse of power as she allegedly engaged in activities that constitute a conflict of interest relating to her position as a public servant.

In 2020, Lin reportedly took a senior position on the board of a temple in her constituency in Kaohsiung and exploited her image as a public figure to seek sponsorship from around 20 companies operating in the southern city's Linyuan Industrial Park.

She allegedly sought out sponsors to help organize public events for the temple, which prosecutors have suggested is a legal gray area.

When questioned at that time, Lin said the claims came from unsubstantiated and biased reports.

On Thursday, prosecutors conducted searches at the temple and took into custody an unidentified member of the temple for questioning.

The temple member was released on NT$1 million bail for suspected violations of the Anti-Corruption Act later that day, while Lin's younger sister was released on NT$300,000 bail in the same case early Friday morning.

The prosecution has also requested court approval to detain Lin's younger brother and two members of her local office in connection with the temple case.

On leaving the district prosecutors office at 7 a.m. Friday, Lin spoke to local media and maintained her innocence, claiming she is being targeted by "dark forces who chose to attack me at this time."

Lin said she has lawfully served Kaohsiung for the last 24 years, adding that she will fight to defend her innocence.

Lin, 52, served in the Legislature from 2002-2008 before being elected again in 2011. Since then, she has held her legislative seat and had been considered a possible candidate in the DPP primaries for the 2026 Kaohsiung mayoral election.

In a statement Thursday, Lin's constituency office denied any wrongdoing, saying the lawmaker has always followed the law and will wait for the legal process to play out and prove her innocence.