Two Kuomintang (KMT) officials in Taichung have been detained due to allegations of forgery. The detentions are related to recall campaigns against two Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers.
The Taichung District Court granted prosecutors’ requests to detain Chen Chien-feng and Wu Kang-lung. Chen is the secretary of the Taichung City KMT branch, and Wu is a local KMT official. Both officials are suspected of involvement in a forgery scandal tied to recall petitions.
Investigators discovered a significant issue with the recall petitions. They found that 83 signatories from one petition and 66 from another were already deceased. These names appeared on the recall lists before the petitions were even filed. This has raised suspicions of intentional wrongdoing by KMT officials involved in the campaigns.
The investigation is part of a broader probe into KMT recall activities in various cities, including Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung. Authorities have already questioned several other KMT officials in these locations. In Taichung, prosecutors raided eight locations and questioned nine KMT officials. Four witnesses were also interviewed overnight.
Chen and Wu face serious accusations. Investigators believe they copied names from KMT membership lists to add to the recall petitions. These actions suggest possible forgery and a breach of privacy. If convicted, the two KMT officials could face significant legal consequences.
The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover the full extent of the alleged forgery. Meanwhile, six other KMT officials have been released on bail, ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$200,000. These officials are also barred from leaving the country.
This incident is part of a larger series of allegations against KMT officials related to their handling of recall campaigns. As the investigation develops, more details may emerge. However, for now, the focus remains on the two KMT officials detained for forgery.