Taipei: Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker Sra Kacaw, also known as Jeng Tian-tsair, has been indicted for allegedly receiving NT$7.11 million (US$222,476) in bribes between 2020 and 2023, according to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office.
According to Focus Taiwan, the indictment charges Sra Kacaw, an Amis, with violating the Anti-Corruption Act and the Money Laundering Control Act. He allegedly pocketed illicit funds from nine businessmen involved in the green energy, real estate, and customs brokerage industries. His office assistant, Chang Teng-lung, also faces charges. Additionally, eight of the nine businessmen involved have received a two-year deferred prosecution, with fines ranging from NT$700,000 to NT$2 million, along with mandatory attendance at educational classes about the law.
Prosecutors decided not to pursue charges against the ninth businessman as he has passed away. The indictment highlights that Sra Kacaw, having been elected four times as a lawmaker, should have been aware of the implications of his actions. Instead, he reportedly accepted bribes and exerted pressure on government agencies to benefit these businessmen.
Prosecutors stated that Sra Kacaw’s actions resulted in significant harm to fairness and integrity, undermining the country’s constitutional system, democracy, and rule of law. A jail term of more than 10 years is being sought for the lawmaker.
The investigation by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office began in the latter half of 2024, focusing on allegations that Sra Kacaw received money through his assistant starting in December 2020. Businessmen who paid bribes were designated as special assistants to the lawmaker to promote their businesses, while Sra Kacaw and Chang coordinated with government agencies to provide them assistance.
Following Chang’s detention in July 2023 for another case involving bribes for an official at the Construction and Planning Administration, one of the businessmen took over Chang’s role in collecting bribes for Sra Kacaw. The funds were reportedly disguised as donations to Indigenous harvest festivals, according to prosecutors.
