Hsinchu City councilor gets suspended sentence for corruption

Taipei, March 20 (CNA) Hsinchu City Councilor Chen Chih-hsiung (陳治雄) has been given a suspended sentence after being found guilty by a district court of embezzling public funds.

According to the Hsinchu District Court's verdict on Tuesday, Chen, of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), fraudulently claimed around NT$2.79 million (US$84,574) by registering two acquaintances as phantom assistants.

The court said that Chen hired a man surnamed Chi (戚) as his assistant on Aug. 1, 2019, eventually raising Chi's monthly salary to NT$40,000.

Chen then registered the girlfriend of his girlfriend's son, a woman surnamed Pan (潘), as a second assistant on May 9, 2022, also on a monthly salary of NT$40,000.

According to the court, Chen personally pocketed the salaries of the two assistants, who did no actual work for the councilor.

The court said that as a city councilor, Chen knowingly violated the law by fraudulently claiming assistant salaries, betraying the trust of those who voted him into office.

The court gave Chen a jail term of two years, suspended for five years, citing his admission of guilt and return of his illicit gains.

Chen's girlfriend was given a prison sentence of 18 months, suspended for four years, while Chi and Pan each received 14 months, suspended for three years.

All four verdicts are subject to appeal.

In a brief phone interview Thursday, Chen told CNA Thursday that he respected the outcome of the court's ruling and would discuss an appeal with his lawyer.