Kao Chin indicted on national security, corruption charges
Taipei, Nov. 6 (CNA) Independent lawmaker Kao Chin Su-mei (高金素梅) and three others were indicted Friday on national security and corruption charges over allegations that they carried out activities on Beijing's behalf with Chinese funding.
In a statement, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office said Kao Chin, her former legislative office director Chang Chun-chieh (張俊傑), and two publicly funded legislative assistants, Chen Chih-huang (陳智葟) and Lin Yi-chun (林怡君), were indicted on charges of violating the National Security Act and accepting bribes under the Anti-Corruption Act.
According to prosecutors, between 2005 and 2016, Chang and Chen coordinated Kao Chin's election campaigns, legislative work and outreach to Indigenous communities.
Lin allegedly acted as an intermediary for Kao Chin and Chang, traveling between Taiwan and China to receive instructions from Chinese officials and relay them to others.
Prosecutors alleged that Chang openly accepted Chinese donations for infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities while secretly channeling more than NT$170 million (US$5.17 million) in Chinese funding through accounts belonging to relatives and friends.
The money was allegedly used to develop an organization on behalf of Chinese government agencies and support Kao Chin's reelection campaigns.
Prosecutors also accused Kao Chin of acting on Beijing's instructions on major issues involving arms purchases, cross-strait relations, foreign affairs and national defense, using her position as a lawmaker to influence legislative proceedings.
Citing what they described as Kao Chin's lack of remorse and attempts to evade responsibility during the investigation, prosecutors asked the court to impose a 14-year prison sentence.
They also sought a 15-year prison sentence for Chang, who is believed to have fled Taiwan after being released on bail, citing the seriousness of his alleged offenses and his attempts to evade prosecution.
Meanwhile, Chen and Lin confessed during the investigation, returned their illicit gains and provided detailed accounts of the involvement of other defendants, prosecutors said.
In a separate case in June, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Kao Chin and 23 others on corruption and fraud-related charges involving the alleged embezzlement of public funds and the importation of unapproved COVID-19 test kits from China.
The case is pending trial.
Kao Chin responds to indictment
In a statement following Friday's indictment, Kao Chin denied developing an organization on behalf of the Chinese government or receiving Chinese funding, saying the allegations were untrue.
She accused prosecutors of rushing to indict her to divert attention from their failure to apprehend Chang after he fled Taiwan.
Kao Chin also rejected allegations that her opposition to arms purchases and other positions cited in the indictment were taken at Beijing's direction, saying they reflected views she had long held.
She questioned why she would need Chinese funding to secure reelection after serving seven consecutive terms and spending 24 years visiting Indigenous communities and addressing residents' concerns.
Kao Chin also questioned why, if the alleged offenses occurred between 2005 and 2016, she had been placed under surveillance for more than 20 years but was only indicted a decade later, shortly before an election.
She said she would present evidence at trial to defend her innocence.
The lawmaker also criticized what she described as growing smear campaigns and online accusations labeling opposition figures as pro-China or spies, questioning whether such an environment was compatible with democracy.
She said she would continue to stand by her principles.
(By Lee Nian-ting and Ko Lin)
