Changhua speaker investigated over alleged vote-buying

Changhua County Council Speaker Hsieh Dien-lin (謝典霖) and four others, including his parents, were taken into custody yesterday in connection with a June banquet that authorities allege constituted vote-buying.

Prosecutors have asked the court to approve the formal detention of Hsieh, a member of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT); his father, Hsieh Hsin-lung (謝新隆); his mother, Cheng Ru-fen (鄭汝芬); a former legislator; and two others on suspicion of contravening the Public Officials Election and Recall Act (公職人員選舉罷免法).

Prosecutors alleged that the banquet, where more than 10 tables of residents from Sihu Township (西湖) were entertained, served as a covert campaign event to support Hsieh Dien-lin’s aunt, KMT Sihu mayoral candidate Chen Chen-fei (陳貞妃).

Former legislator Cheng Ru-fen, front left, Sihu Township mayoral candidate Chen Chen-fei, front row, sixth left, Changhua County commissioner candidate Wei Ping-cheng, front row, seventh left, and others attend a banquet hosted by the Changhua County Council in June.

Photo provided by a member of the public

The Changhua County Council denied the allegation at the time, saying that the gathering was an exchange among local community leaders rather than a council-organized event, and that no public funds, council budget or discretionary funds were used.

Chen and six other suspects were released on bail ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$100,000 after questioning, while nearly 10 other attendees were released without charge.

Prosecutors said they would continue to investigate all reports of election bribery, including through banquets, tours, gifts or cash payments, to safeguard the integrity of democratic elections.

The banquet first drew public attention in July, when Executive Yuan Central Taiwan Joint Services Center Deputy Executive Officer Wu Yin-ning (吳音寧) alleged that Hsieh Dien-lin had used the banquet to campaign for his aunt.

In a social media post, Wu, whose family has longstanding ties to local politics and rural affairs in Changhua, asked whether the banquet was paid for privately or with county council resources, suggesting it could have contravened the Public Officials Election and Recall Act.

Following yesterday’s detentions, KMT Culture and Communications Committee director Chen Yi-hsin (陳以信) said prosecutors should explain the basis for their probe, given that it began shortly after Wu’s post.

In response, Wu said that the issue was not who brought the matter to light, but whether a crime had been committed, and called on the KMT to respect the judicial investigation.