Accused of Defrauding NT$9.77 Million in Assistant Fees, Taipei Councilor Li Fu-chung-wu and Six Relatives Indicted

Taipei City Councilor Li Fu-chung-wu, along with six family members, faces indictment for allegedly defrauding approximately NT$9.77 million in public funds over a 15-year period. The charges stem from accusations of using 'ghost assistants' and employing 'low-salary, high-reporting' methods to claim fraudulent subsidies for legislative assistants.

According to the indictment, Li, a Kuomintang councilor representing the indigenous constituency of Taipei City since 2010, and his wife, Lin Chin-li, who managed the office's finances and personnel, allegedly used relatives as nominal assistants. These individuals, including Li's mother-in-law, nephew, and wife's uncle and his wife, were reportedly listed as public assistants, with some never actually performing duties or having their salaries artificially inflated on paper.

Prosecutors detailed how the group submitted fabricated employment contracts and personnel change documents to the Taipei City Council. This deception led the council to disburse monthly salaries and Lunar New Year bonuses, resulting in NT$5.76 million in illicit gains through the 'ghost assistant' scheme. An additional NT$4.01 million was allegedly obtained by inflating the reported salaries of two actual assistants, who received significantly less than what was claimed.

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Li Fu-chung-wu and Lin Chin-li are the main masterminds of this case, with a long period of crime and illicit gains totaling NT$9,771,081. The circumstances of the crime are not minor.

Li Fu-chung-wu and Lin Chin-li are considered the main orchestrators of the scheme, which spanned multiple terms of office. Prosecutors noted the long duration of the alleged crime and the substantial amount of illicit gains. However, they recommended a reduced sentence for the defendants, citing their confessions during the investigation and the complete repatriation of the misappropriated funds.

While Li and his wife face charges for defrauding public funds and falsifying official documents, they were also investigated for money laundering. However, insufficient evidence led to their acquittal on the money laundering charges. Another associate, a Mr. You, was also cleared due to insufficient evidence.

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Considering that both confessed their crimes during the investigation, and the other defendants also admitted to the crimes, and the illicit gains have all been returned, the court is requested to reduce their sentences according to the Anti-Corruption Act.