Taiwanese lawmaker's nephew arrested for alleged fraud, released on bail

Liu Meng-han, the nephew of legislator Chen Xue-sheng, has been released on NT$350,000 bail after being questioned by prosecutors in Taipei. Liu returned to Taiwan from abroad and was subsequently interrogated by investigators regarding his alleged involvement in defrauding assistant fees.

The case centers on accusations that legislator Chen Xue-sheng, a member of the Kuomintang party, used relatives and friends to fraudulently claim assistant fees. He is also accused of receiving improper benefits, such as assistant personnel, from shipping companies. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office initiated a large-scale investigation on August 24, conducting searches at 35 locations across Taiwan, Kinmen, and Matsu.

During the initial investigation, Liu Meng-han was abroad. Upon his return, he was interviewed by investigators before appearing before the Taipei District Prosecutors Office. Prosecutors determined that Liu was suspected of violating the Anti-Corruption Act and set his bail at NT$350,000.

Legislator Chen Xue-sheng himself was previously released on NT$2 million bail and restricted from leaving the country after being questioned in connection with the same case. Additionally, Yang Su-yuan, the de facto head of Jin Xin Shipping and father of former Kinmen County Magistrate Yang Chen-wu, was granted NT$1.5 million bail with travel restrictions for allegedly providing Chen Xue-sheng with an unpaid special assistant.