Taiwan's top court upholds suspended sentence for DPP councilor in aide fund case

Taipei, Sept. 10 (CNA) Taiwan's Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Keelung City Councilor Chang Hao-han (張顥瀚) in a case involving government-funded aide subsidies, making final a sentence of 23 months in prison, suspended for five years.

He was also deprived of his civil rights for two years.

The ruling means Chang can no longer serve as a city councilor.

According to the indictment, Chang took advantage of his position as a city councilor and instructed a government-funded aide, surnamed Chen (陳), to falsely report her salary beginning in 2019.

He allegedly fraudulently obtained NT$670,033 (US$21,197) through the arrangement.

Chang also allegedly listed his mother, surnamed Lee, as a government-funded aide without her knowledge.

He allegedly obtained another NT$112,453 in aide subsidies and Lunar New Year payments through the false employment arrangement between 2018 and 2022.

According to Taiwan's Regulations Governing Allowances for Elected Representatives and Subsidies for Chiefs of Villages, subsidies for government-funded aides and Lunar New Year payments are paid from budgets allocated by local councils and are separate from councilors' salaries, the indictment said.

The Keelung District Prosecutors Office indicted Chang and Chen on charges including taking advantage of their official positions to fraudulently obtain property under the Anti-Corruption Act.

The Keelung District Court in May 2025 sentenced Chang to two years in prison, suspended for five years, deprived him of his civil rights for four years, and ordered him to pay NT$200,000 to the national treasury.

Chen was sentenced to one year and four months in prison, suspended for four years, and deprived of her civil rights for two years.

On appeal, the Taiwan High Court reduced Chang's prison sentence to 23 months and his deprivation of civil rights to two years, while maintaining the five-year suspended sentence.

It also placed him under probation supervision during the suspension period and ordered him to pay NT$200,000 to the national treasury.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court ruling on Thursday, making it final.