Hualien Earthquake Relief Funds Under Investigation; DPP Criticizes: 'Fu Kun-chi Always Hides Behind'

Hualien County prosecutors have initiated an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of earthquake relief funds, searching the Social Affairs Department and detaining six individuals, including its director. The probe centers on unclear accounting for funds collected after the 2018 and 2022 earthquakes.

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Why is it that every time something happens in Hualien County, it's the bureau chiefs who are interviewed and held accountable on the front lines? Who made the decisions? Who gave the final approval? The actual person in charge, Fu Kun-chi, should come forward and clarify things, giving everyone an explanation.

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) representative Chuang Yi-chieh criticized the situation, pointing to her father, former county councilor Chuang Chih-tsai, who had previously investigated the flow of funds. She questioned why grassroots officials are always the ones taking responsibility while key decision-makers, such as former Magistrate Fu Kun-chi, "always hide behind."

Chuang Yi-chieh highlighted past controversies, including a 2018 "earthquake gratitude banquet" and promotional materials allegedly funded by relief money. She questioned the use of over a billion NT dollars in remaining funds for public works, asking what tangible benefits disaster victims actually received. She emphasized that donations were intended to help victims rebuild, not for questionable expenditures.

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The national public donated this money hoping that disaster victims could stand up again, not hoping that relief funds would be used for expenditures that raise questions.

County Councilor Chang Mei-hui echoed these concerns, noting that the county government has repeatedly deflected questions about fund usage by citing the relief fund committee. She pointed out that at least 720 million NT dollars were reportedly used for county infrastructure rather than direct victim assistance. Chang criticized the county government's immediate response to the investigation, accusing it of using public platforms to attack the judiciary as politically motivated, while Fu Kun-chi's past fund management has long been questioned.

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The county government has always pushed it off to the relief fund committee to avoid answering. For example, at least 720 million NT dollars were used by the Hualien County Government for public construction within the county, instead of directly assisting disaster victims.