Taitung: Taitung County Councilor Wang You-li (???) has been indicted for fraudulently claiming more than NT$4.68 million (US$145,000) in public assistant subsidies through fake staffing arrangements, prosecutors said Wednesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Taitung District Prosecutors Office stated that Wang allegedly listed four "dummy assistants" in her accounts between December 2022 and April 2026, using the names of relatives and associates to obtain publicly funded salaries intended for legislative aides. Four other individuals were also indicted in connection with the case.
Investigators discovered that the salary payments for the allegedly fictitious aides were deposited into accounts controlled or influenced by Wang, with some funds later flowing back to her. Prosecutors indicated this formed the basis of charges under the Anti-Corruption Act and related falsification of documents offenses, and they have requested that the alleged illicit gains totaling NT$4.68 million be confiscated.
Wang, nominated by the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) for the upcoming Green Island township chief election, has denied any wrongdoing. She asserted that all listed assistants performed actual duties and described the indictment as "unexpected," expressing confidence that she will be cleared through judicial proceedings.
She was previously questioned in April and released on NT$300,000 bail after being brought from Green Island for interrogation. Despite the indictment, Wang stated she will continue her campaign, believing that voters will ultimately decide her fate at the ballot box.