Prosecutors request detention of township head in Matai'an Creek case

Taipei, Jan. 15 (CNA) The Hualien District Prosecutors Office said Thursday it has asked for Guangfu Township chief Lin Ching-shui (林清水) to be detained incommunicado over his alleged role in the deaths of 19 people in last year's Matai'an Creek barrier lake breach.

Prosecutors said Lin is suspected of offenses including negligent manslaughter and falsely reporting evacuation figures around the time the barrier lake overflowed on Sept. 23, 2025.

According to prosecutors, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) issued a yellow alert calling for preventive evacuation at 11 a.m. on Sept. 21 and a red alert for mandatory evacuation at 7 a.m. on Sept. 22.

Despite the alerts, prosecutors said that Lin and three Guangfu Township Office personnel failed to actively evacuate residents as required under disaster prevention regulations.

Prosecutors allege that the four officials later submitted evacuation headcount reports containing false information to the Hualien County Government's Department of Civil Affairs.

Prosecutors said residents had not been evacuated prior to the barrier lake overflow on Sept. 23, resulting in a "serious disaster situation."

Investigators on Wednesday searched eight locations, including the Guangfu Township Office, seized evidence and brought Lin and the three other officials in for questioning, according to prosecutors.

The three others are suspected of the same offenses as Lin, prosecutors said.

Following questioning, Lin was immediately taken into custody due to concerns he might collude with accomplices or witnesses. Prosecutors added that they have petitioned the Hualien District Court for the township chief to be formally detained incommunicado.

Prosecutors added that the remaining three suspects did not require detention and were released under court-ordered restrictions.

Prosecutors said one suspect, a secretary surnamed Chang (張), was granted bail of NT$200,000 (US$6,329), while a section chief surnamed Wang (王) was granted bail of NT$150,000.

Both have been placed under electronic monitoring with restrictions on residence and travel abroad.

The office said the other suspect, a contract employee surnamed Tseng (曾), was also placed under restrictions on residence and travel abroad.