TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Speaker of the Yunlin County Council, Huang Kai (黃凱), was arrested by Taiwanese police on charges related to accepting bribes from an energy company as far back as 2020.
Starting on June 25, Taiwanese police carried out raids for 10 consecutive days at 40 different locations across five counties as part of an anti-corruption campaign, reported UDN. Huang and three other individuals were arrested for their involvement in a bribery scheme involving a solar energy company seeking business permits.
During the raids, police confiscated NT$2.32 million (US$71,000), along with a BMW, a Lexus, and a large stash of designer bags found on Huang’s properties in Yunlin, New Taipei, Taipei, Tainan, and Hsinchu. These goods may constitute ill-gotten gains, according to the New Taipei Prosecutors Office, which is handling Huang’s case.
According to reports, as early as 2020, Huang was accepting bribes through a head hunting company to use his influence as a council member—and later as council speaker—to pressure officials to grant business licenses and permits to companies involved in green energy and electrical power generation. A report from CNA indicates that a businessman surname Lian (連) bribed Huang on behalf of the Kou Kin Power Company (國金能源) to obtain permits for a solar power plant in Yunlin’s Taixi Township.
A total of 22 people have been identified as potential suspects in the case, including a man surnamed Li (李), the director of the construction division of Yunlin County’s Economic Affairs Department. Li allegedly leaked internal county documents to Huang, including reviews of industry applications to develop power plants.
Huang was transported by police to New Taipei on Friday (July 5) and is reportedly facing charges of bribery, money laundering, and other crimes that constitute a serious violation of his responsibilities as a public official. A judge has agreed with prosecutors to detain Huang without bail before his trial, stemming from a concern he may attempt to destroy evidence or collude with potential witnesses or other defendants if allowed out of jail.
If found guilty, he may face up to five years in prison, per CNA.
The three other people who have been arrested and charged have been granted bail, including Li. The other two defendants are a woman surnamed Chou (周), who is Huang’s secretary, and Huang’s cousin, a woman with the same surname, who managed the headhunting company.
The anti-corruption probe is ongoing, with more arrests expected to be made in the coming weeks. Prosecutors have urged anyone involved in illegal activity, whether related to Huang’s case or other corruption cases involving civil servants, to come forward and turn themselves in, in exchange for potentially lighter sentencing.
