Former Taitung Councilor Acquitted in NT$2,000 Bribery Case

In a significant reversal, former Taitung County Councilor Yen Hui-mei has been acquitted of bribery charges related to NT$2,000. The Hualien High Court overturned previous guilty verdicts, ruling that the evidence presented was insufficient to prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Yen, who ran as an independent candidate, was accused of handing NT$2,000 in cash to two voters while shaking their hands during a campaign event in March and April 2022. Both the criminal and civil courts had initially found her guilty, leading to her disqualification from her position as county councilor based on the civil ruling of election invalidity.

The appellate court's decision hinged on the credibility of the accusers' testimony. The judges noted that individuals admitting to receiving bribes could be motivated by reduced sentences under election laws. Therefore, relying solely on their statements without independent corroborating evidence was deemed insufficient to establish guilt. The court highlighted that while the accusers pointed to the same time and place of the alleged bribe, their testimony could not be mutually reinforced without additional supporting proof.

Although investigators seized NT$4,000 from one of the accusers, the court could not definitively link this money to Yen's alleged bribe. Upholding the principle of presumed innocence, the court stated that any reasonable doubt regarding the facts of the crime must lead to an acquittal. Yen Hui-mei's acquittal in the criminal case means the previous civil ruling of election invalidity may be subject to further legal challenges, as the verdict can still be appealed.