New Taipei councilor bailed in suspected laundry detergent vote-buying case

Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) New Taipei City Councilor Yang Chun-mei (楊春妹) was released on NT$500,000 (US$15,700) bail and barred from leaving Taiwan after prosecutors said she is suspected of distributing laundry detergent to voters as part of a vote-buying scheme, the New Taipei District Prosecutors' Office said Wednesday.

Prosecutors said they are investigating allegations that Yang recently distributed laundry detergent and other household goods to voters at several community activity centers, in what is the first suspected vote-buying case involving a New Taipei City councilor in this year's local election.

According to prosecutors, they searched Yang's home, office and other locations on Tuesday, finding large quantities of laundry detergent and other household goods allegedly intended for distribution to voters.

After questioning 21 people, including Yang, two assistants and witnesses, prosecutors said Yang and the two assistants are suspected of offering or giving bribes to people with voting rights in exchange for votes.

Yang, a four-term Kuomintang councilor representing New Taipei's electoral constituency No. 12 for Plains Indigenous Tribes, recently registered to seek a fifth term in this year's local elections.

One of Yang's assistants was released on NT$400,000 bail and also barred from leaving Taiwan, while the other was released on NT$40,000 bail. The remaining people questioned were released after questioning, prosecutors said.

Taiwan does not have a fixed price threshold above which an election gift automatically constitutes vote-buying. The key issue stipulated under the Public Officials Election And Recall Act is whether the gift is provided as an improper benefit in exchange for specific voting behavior.