Taiwan's Recall Vote Investigations: KMT Officials Under Scrutiny

Signature Forgery Allegations Lead to Detentions and Probes Across Northern Taiwan

Taipei, Taiwan – Investigations into alleged signature forgeries related to recall vote campaigns are intensifying in Taiwan, putting several KMT (Kuomintang) officials under the microscope. Prosecutors are actively pursuing cases across northern Taiwan, with recent developments including detentions, releases, and requests for further detention.

In New Taipei City, the New Taipei District Court ordered the detention of KMT New Taipei City Branch Secretary-General Chen Chen-jung (陳貞容). The prosecutors' office suspects Chen of involvement in forging signatures during a campaign aimed at recalling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers. This follows lawsuits from DPP legislators Su Chiao-hui (蘇巧慧) and Lee Kuen-cheng (李坤城), who alleged the use of false signatures in recall efforts against them.

The investigation included searches at the KMT's New Taipei City branch, following earlier raids on various locations. While three other KMT local officials, Tsai Kan-tzu (蔡甘子), Chu Pei-yi (朱蓓儀), and Lo Ta-yu (羅大宇), were questioned and released, the detention of Chen Chen-jung has sparked controversy. KMT's New Taipei City branch chairman Huang Chih-hsiung (黃志雄) criticized the detention as politically motivated and announced the party's intention to appeal the decision.

Parallel investigations are underway in Keelung, where prosecutors raided six locations, including the KMT city branch. These raids target those involved in recall campaigns against DPP city councilors Cheng Wen-ting (鄭文婷) and Jiho Tiun (張之豪). The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau's (MJIB) Keelung City Field Office questioned key figures, including Chi Wen-chuan (紀文荃), Yu Cheng-yi (游正義), and Hsu Shao-yeh (許紹業), on suspicion of document forgery.

Chang Chin-fa (張金發) and Wu Kuo-sheng (吳國勝), were reclassified as suspects. Prosecutors also suspect Chang Yuan-hsiang (張淵翔), of the Keelung City Government's Department of Civil Affairs, of accessing the household registration system to assist in the recall petition, potentially violating civil service neutrality. Requests for the formal detention of Chang Yuan-hsiang, Chi, and Chang Chin-fa were submitted to the Keelung District Court.

The ongoing investigations in both New Taipei and Keelung highlight the complexities and legal battles surrounding the recall vote process under the Public Officials Election and Recall Act in Taiwan.