Councilor indicted for alleged fake assistant salary scheme

Taipei, June 17 (CNA) Taitung County Councilor Wang You-li (王姷力) has been indicted for fraudulently claiming more than NT$4.68 million (US$145,000) in public assistant subsidies through fake staffing arrangements, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The Taitung District Prosecutors Office said Wang allegedly listed four "dummy assistants" in her accounts between December 2022 and April 2026, using the names of relatives and associates to obtain publicly funded salaries intended for legislative aides.

Four other individuals were also indicted in connection with the case.

Investigators found that the salary payments for the allegedly fictitious aides were deposited into accounts controlled or influenced by Wang, with some funds later flowing back to her.

Prosecutors said this formed the basis of charges under the Anti-Corruption Act and related falsification of documents offenses, and they have requested that the alleged illicit gains totaling NT$4.68 million be confiscated.

Wang, who was nominated by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) for the upcoming Green Island township chief election, has denied wrongdoing.

She said all listed assistants performed actual duties and described the indictment as "unexpected," adding that she was confident she will be cleared through judicial proceedings.

She was previously questioned in April and released on NT$300,000 bail after being brought from Green Island for interrogation.

Despite the indictment, Wang said she will continue her campaign, saying voters will ultimately decide her fate at the ballot box.