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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Elections & Politics

Taiwanese party chairman gets 2 years for taking Chinese funds for election rallies

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A chairman of a Taiwanese political party was sentenced to two years in prison for receiving Chinese funds to organize protests and rallies during elections.
  • The court found the politician guilty of accepting 50,000 Chinese yuan to mobilize people for campaign events, including protests outside a democratic movement conference.
  • The politician, along with two others, appealed the verdict but had their sentences upheld, with the politician loudly proclaiming the ruling unconstitutional.

A Taiwanese politician, identified as the chairman of the Republican Party and the "Third Force 333 Political Alliance," has been sentenced to two years in prison for accepting Chinese funds to support his election campaign.

Chou Ke-chi was accused of receiving 50,000 Chinese yuan, approximately NT$234,000, through two associates to mobilize "walkers" for campaign rallies and protests. The funds were reportedly used to support his activities during the 2022 local elections and a "World Democratic Movement Conference" held in Taipei.

illegal precedent

— Chou Ke-chiFollowing the verdict, Chou Ke-chi proclaimed the ruling "illegal precedent" and "unconstitutional" to the media.

Taipei District Court initially sentenced Chou to two years imprisonment, while his associates, Pan Chin-tung and Chu Chun-yuan, received 1 year and 6 months, and 1 year, respectively. The court ruled that the three knowingly accepted instructions and funding from China, an "external hostile force," to organize rallies and protests under the guise of legitimate activities, thereby undermining electoral fairness and democratic order. Their appeals were dismissed by the High Court, upholding the original sentences.

Following the verdict, Chou loudly proclaimed the ruling "illegal precedent" and "unconstitutional" to the media, expressing his belief that the Grand Justices should review the case. He was taken into custody to serve his sentence.

illegal and unconstitutional

— Chou Ke-chiFollowing the verdict, Chou Ke-chi proclaimed the ruling "illegal precedent" and "unconstitutional" to the media.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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