Taitung road project scandal widens as prosecutors search offices and homes of seven councillors

The investigation into Taitung’s Jianhe farm road has moved inside the county council, with prosecutors searching the offices and homes of seven councillors suspected of involvement in the project.

Two prosecutors led a large team of investigators in the searches, which were still under way. The operation followed allegations that a county-funded road improvement project had benefited the Dongying Resort, an investment linked to the family of Council Speaker Wu Hsiu-hua.

The county government allocated NT$28 million for the road work. County councillor Lin Can-tian later alleged that seven councillors had also used individual small-project allocations to contribute a combined NT$3.8 million. That brought the project’s total funding above NT$31 million.

Lin said councillors normally use such allocations for limited local needs, including farm water tanks and small agricultural roads. He described the seven councillors’ joint support for one project as highly unusual and questioned whether the money had been directed toward a particular family and its business interests rather than ordinary farmers.

The investigation also involves claims that Wu’s family controlled 18 hectares of land upstream from the road that had been rezoned for recreational use. Prosecutors are examining possible collective favoritism or collusion within the council. The article does not say whether any suspects have been summoned or detained.