Keelung:Taipei Investigators have seized two fishing boats in Keelung as part of an ongoing investigation involving a legislative aide who absconded after being indicted on corruption charges. The aide, Chang Chun-chieh, reportedly fled Taiwan by boat in late October after jumping bail.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Coast Guard Administration, under the direction of Taipei prosecutors, deployed a patrol vessel near Pengjia Islet to intercept a fishing boat suspected of aiding Chang's escape on October 28. The boat's captain, who was fishing at the time, was taken for questioning by the Keelung investigation team. He has denied any involvement in Chang's escape.
After a search, no prohibited items or evidence of Chang's presence were found on the vessel. Another fishing boat was seized later at Zhengbin Fishing Port, and its crew was questioned. The boat's voyage data recorder was provided to the Fisheries Agency to assess its route.
Ocean Affairs Council chief Kuan Bi-ling informed the Legislature's Internal Administration Committee that the connection between the vessels, the captain, and Chang's flight is still under investigation by prosecutors. Chang, who was indicted on corruption charges and implicated in a Chinese espionage case, had evaded capture for nearly two months after breaking his electronic monitoring wristband in September.
Prosecutors have secured critical evidence in the case but will only release further details once the facts are clarified. Police have tracked Chang's movements across Taiwan, revealing he used a network of accomplices to evade capture. So far, 47 accomplices have been apprehended, including nine with the assistance of the Coast Guard Administration.
Chang was among 24 individuals indicted for conspiring with independent lawmaker Kao Chin Su-mei to misappropriate public funds, in violation of the Anti-Corruption Act. Additionally, Chang and others are being investigated for allegedly receiving funds from China to establish spy networks in Taiwan, violating the National Security Act.
In connection with the espionage case, prosecutors questioned and detained two of Kao Chin's aides, as well as summoned Kao Chin, who now faces a travel ban.
