Investigators seize boats in probe into aide’s escape

Investigators yesterday seized two fishing boats in Keelung as part of a probe into a legislative aide who jumped bail in September after being indicted on corruption charges and reportedly fled Taiwan by boat late last month.

Directed by Taipei prosecutors, the Coast Guard Administration yesterday sent a patrol vessel to waters near Pengjia Islet (彭佳嶼) to intercept a fishing boat suspected of being used to transport Chang Chun-chieh (張俊傑), a former legislative office director for independent Legislator May Chin (高金素梅), on Saturday.

The boat’s captain, who was fishing at the time, agreed to return with coast guard personnel and was handed over to Keelung investigators for questioning. The captain denied involvement in the escape.

Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling speaks to reporters on the sidelines of a legislative committee meeting in Taipei yesterday.

Photo: CNA

The vessel was searched, but investigators found no prohibited items and did not locate Chang aboard, officials said.

Investigators seized another fishing boat at Jhengbin Fishing Harbor (正濱漁港) and questioned its crew.

The boat’s data recorder was given to the Fisheries Agency to help determine its activities.

Speaking at a meeting of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee yesterday, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) said that prosecutors had not yet clarified whether the vessels and the captain were directly linked to Chang’s flight.

Chang was indicted on corruption charges and implicated in a Chinese espionage case.

He had been on the run for nearly two months after breaking his electronic monitoring wristband at Daan Forest Park in Taipei on Sept. 6 while out on NT$10 million (US$304,683) bail, prompting the Taipei District Court to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Kuan told lawmakers that prosecutors are directing the investigation of Chang’s flight and have secured key evidence, but added that further details would only be made public after investigators clarify the facts.

Police tracking Chang’s movements across from Keelung to Pingtung County found that he relied on an extensive network of accomplices to evade capture.

A total of 47 people suspected of assisting Chang’s escape have been detained so far, including nine caught with the coast guard’s assistance, Kuan said.

Chang was among 24 people indicted by the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office in June for allegedly conspiring with Chin to misappropriate public assistant fees in contravention of the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例).

In a separate case, Chang and others are under investigation by the High Prosecutors’ Office for allegedly receiving funds from China to establish spy networks in Taiwan, in violation of the National Security Act (國家安全法).

In September, prosecutors questioned two of Chin’s government-funded aides, surnamed Lin (林) and Chen (陳), in connection with the espionage case. They were subsequently detained and held incommunicado.

Chin was also summoned for questioning and subsequently placed under a travel ban preventing her from leaving the country.