TAIPEI (TVBS News) — After an eight-month investigation, the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office formally indicted Hsinchu City Mayor Kao Hung-an and four others on corruption charges on Monday (Aug 14).
Tsai Wei-i, the Chief Prosecutor of the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, emphasized Kao's lack of differentiation between public and private matters and her pursuit of personal gain. As a result, the prosecution is seeking appropriate sentencing and the declaration of the deprivation of civil rights as a deterrent.
Kao and the four assistants have been charged under the Anti-Corruption Act and the Criminal Code for exploiting their positions for personal gain. However, Kao's boyfriend, Li Zhong-ting, has not been indicted, as the prosecutor concluded there was insufficient evidence.
The prosecutors highlighted that Kao receives a monthly salary exceeding NT$190,000 as a legislator and a political inquiry salary surpassing NT$70,000. However, despite having access to these funds, Kao did not utilize them as intended. Instead, she exploited her subordinates and conspired to falsely claim overtime pay, misusing funds from the Legislative Yuan for personnel expenses.
The prosecutors stated that Kao manipulated assistant salaries to cover other expenses and exhibited an unrepentant attitude after the offense.
In response, Kuo condemned the prosecutors for their hasty actions, suggesting the prosecution might have been politically motivated. Kao remains confident that the court will ultimately vindicate her name once political considerations are set aside.