Taipei:Independent lawmaker Kao Chin Su-mei and three others have been indicted on national security and corruption charges. The indictments are related to allegations that the group engaged in activities on behalf of Beijing, funded by Chinese sources.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office stated that Kao Chin, along with her former legislative office director Chang Chun-chieh and two publicly funded legislative assistants, Chen Chih-huang and Lin Yi-chun, were charged with violating the National Security Act and accepting bribes under the Anti-Corruption Act.

Prosecutors allege that between 2005 and 2016, Chang and Chen coordinated Kao Chin's election campaigns and legislative efforts, particularly concerning Indigenous communities. Lin is accused of acting as an intermediary between Kao Chin and Chang, traveling to China to receive and relay instructions from Chinese officials.

The indictment claims that Chang accepted Chinese donations for community infrastructure projects while secretly channeling over NT$170 million in Chinese funds through relatives' and friends' accounts. This money was purportedly used to create an organization for Chinese government agencies and to support Kao Chin's reelection campaigns.

Prosecutors further allege that Kao Chin used her position as a lawmaker to influence legislative matters on Beijing’s behalf, including arms purchases and cross-strait relations. Due to her alleged lack of remorse and efforts to avoid responsibility, prosecutors requested a 14-year prison sentence for Kao Chin. A 15-year sentence was sought for Chang, who is believed to have fled Taiwan.

Chen and Lin reportedly confessed during the investigation, returned their illicit gains, and provided detailed information on the involvement of others.

In June, Kao Chin was indicted in a separate case involving 23 others for corruption and fraud-related charges, linked to the alleged embezzlement of public funds and importing unapproved COVID-19 test kits from China. This case is pending trial.

In response, Kao Chin denied the allegations, asserting that she did not develop an organization for the Chinese government nor received Chinese funding. She claimed that her opposition to arms purchases and other positions were her own longstanding views. Kao Chin questioned the timing of the indictment, noting she had been under surveillance for over 20 years but was only indicted now.

Kao Chin intends to present evidence at trial to defend her innocence and criticized increasing smear campaigns labeling opposition figures as pro-China. She committed to upholding her principles.

Source Focus Taiwan