Accused of Defrauding NT$7.87 Million in Assistant Fees, Legislator Kao Chin-su-mei Questioned: 'Watching People's Wallets or Your Own?'

Independent legislator Kao Chin-su-mei faces serious corruption charges for allegedly defrauding the Legislative Yuan of over NT$7.87 million in public funds designated for legislative assistants. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office has indicted her, seeking a heavy sentence of 12 years and six months.

Prosecutors accuse Kao of a systematic scheme involving fictitious assistants and inflated salaries over many years. The indictment details instances where individuals allegedly listed as assistants were not performing legislative duties. This includes the daughter of her office director, who reportedly lived in China and worked on music, and the director's son, who was caring for his mother and granddaughter in Taichung but was still listed as an employee.

Further allegations include Kao's office using a "ghost" employee to claim maternity leave benefits for a staff member who was still working. Additionally, an assistant allegedly tasked with managing a restaurant in Hualien and serving as its manager was reportedly continued to be paid by Kao's office, despite not performing legislative work. Another assistant was allegedly assigned to manage a "tribal marketing company" while still receiving a salary from the Legislative Yuan.

In one particularly egregious case, an assistant's mother was allegedly listed as a public assistant to obscure the fraudulent scheme. The total amount allegedly defrauded covers salaries, overtime pay, year-end bonuses, and maternity leave subsidies. Prosecutors condemned Kao's alleged actions, stating that after more than 20 years as a legislator, she "pocketed or misused state-provided assistant subsidies," thereby destroying public trust in the representative system and public servants' integrity.

Taiwan Youth Generation Association President Chang Yu-meng criticized Kao, questioning whether she was "watching the people's wallets or her own." He highlighted Kao's public statements about safeguarding public funds, contrasting them with the serious charges she faces. The indictment also mentions Kao's alleged involvement in illegally importing rapid test kits, though this aspect was not detailed in the current indictment.