Former Taipei social worker detained for allegedly embezzling NT$12M

Taipei, Sept. 24 (CNA) A former Taipei City social worker was ordered detained and held incommunicado Wednesday on suspicion of embezzling more than NT$12 million (US$377,079) from five elderly clients for whom she had been appointed guardian.

The Taipei District Court approved prosecutors' request to detain the 38-year-old suspect, surnamed Chiang (江), and hold her incommunicado, citing the severity of her alleged crimes and the risk of collusion.

According to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, Chiang began working at the Taipei Department of Social Welfare's Elderly Welfare Division in May 2025, where her duties included placing seniors in care facilities, providing care, and handling financial matters for seniors under guardianship.

After Chiang left her job in June, city officials handling the transfer of her cases discovered that more than NT$12 million was missing from the bank accounts of five elderly people in Taipei's Wenshan District who had been placed under her guardianship, prosecutors said.

The city government subsequently reported the suspected embezzlement to Taipei police, who notified prosecutors and launched a criminal investigation.

Local media reported that Chiang started a new job as a social work supervisor for the New Taipei City government earlier this month.

On Tuesday, prosecutors and police from Xinyi Precinct searched Chiang's home, seizing multiple designer bags and accessories, before summoning her for questioning.

According to the United Daily News, officials from the city's department of ethics approached Chiang at her city hall office and asked her to step outside, where police arrested her and took her for questioning.

Following interrogation, prosecutors sought and obtained court approval Wednesday to detain Chiang as they continue investigating her for suspected violations of the Anti-Corruption Act.

Local media also reported that Chiang had contributed to a book on social work and was interviewed on television about her profession during coverage of the "Kai Kai" (剴剴) case, in which a 1-year-old boy in Taipei died after being abused by a transitional foster caregiver.