KMT Official Jailed for Forging Recall Signatures; Party Chair Vows Support

A high-ranking official of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) party has been sentenced to prison for forging signatures on a recall petition. Lin Ming-chang, vice secretary-general of the KMT's policy committee and former head of the party's Yilan chapter, received a 1-year, 6-month sentence from the Yilan District Court.

“

You have worked hard and been wronged. You still have to bear legal troubles for the party!

The charges stem from Lin's involvement in forging signatures for a recall petition against Democratic Progressive Party legislator Chen Chun-yu. The sentencing comes as KMT Chairwoman Chiu Chen-hsun visited Yilan to attend a party event. During the event, Chiu publicly voiced her support for Lin, stating he had been wronged and had to bear legal troubles for the party.

“

The DPP is using the judiciary to try to annihilate the opposition parties.

Chiu accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party of using the judiciary to target opposition parties. She asserted that Lin's conviction was an example of this, calling it a "feat of battle" and a "badge of honor." She pledged the KMT's full support to Lin and other party members facing similar legal challenges, criticizing the current state of Taiwan's democracy and judiciary as distorted and unjust.

“

Lin Ming-chang has gained another feat of battle, his military exploits are brilliant.

The KMT chairwoman emphasized that the party would stand by all members who have sacrificed for the KMT and are being pursued by the judiciary. She called the situation a "disgrace to democracy" and vowed to support them "to the end."

“

The KMT will definitely support to the end all comrades who have sacrificed for the KMT and are being pursued by the judiciary.