Police post reward for the arrest of Chang

LAWMAKER’S OFFICE: Police said the ex-director of May Chin’s office cut off his monitor in Taipei’s Daan Forest Park and has had help from others to evade capture

• By Lu Yun-feng and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, and staff writer

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Police yesterday posted a NT$1 million (US$31,399) cash reward for information leading to the apprehension of Chang Chun-chieh (張俊傑), a former director of independent Legislator May Chin’s (高金素梅) office, who has been on the run for 10 days after cutting off an electronic bracelet.

Chang was indicted in June along with 23 others in a corruption case involving alleged fraud over legislative aide expenses and illegally importing COVID-19 test kits. He was released on NT$10 million bail.

The New Taipei City Police Department’s Xindian Precinct said that he cut off his electronic monitor on Sept. 6 while in Taipei’s Daan Forest Park and has been on the run since.

A wanted poster released yesterday shows Chang Chun-chieh, a former legislative office director of Legislator May Chin.

Photo courtesy of the National Police Agency

The precinct said that it has been working with its Criminal Investigation Corps, the Criminal Investigation Bureau and police in other administrative regions to locate Chang.

He has used multiple forms of transportation and received assistance from people in several regions, the precinct said, adding that police have so far launched six waves of investigations, and detained or questioned seven people suspected of helping him.

An arrest warrant has also been issued for another suspect, Chen Wei-ta (陳威達), who is suspected of meeting with Chang in a public restroom where the two broke Chang’s monitor and fled separately, the precinct said.

It would continue investigating vehicles and people suspected of helping Chang, as well as locations that he might have hidden at, while pursuing other suspects who have yet to report to police, it said.

Investigatiors aim to determine Chang’s full escape route, the roles played by each accomplice and whether others were involved in planning, directing or assisting his escape, it said.

The precinct urged anyone who has seen Chang or has information about his whereabouts to contact them immediately.

A reward of up to NT$1 million would be offered for specific and credible information that helps police apprehend him, it said.

The Xindian Precinct’s duty center can be reached at 02-2910-4677.