TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kuomintang (KMT) Kaohsiung City Councilor Huang Shao-ting (黃紹庭) was arrested on Sunday (Sept. 29) upon returning to Taiwan from Xiamen, China.

Huang left for Xiamen on Thursday, as Kaohsiung prosecutors and police searched 10 locations, including his residence and office, and brought in 17 individuals for questioning, CNA reported. The city councilor is accused of falsely reporting the fees of publicly funded assistants working for him. 

Six defendants were released on bail ranging from NT$20,000 (US$632) to NT$300,000 after questioning. The deputy director of Huang’s constituency office, surnamed Chou (周), was held in custody but later released without bail. Prosecutors are considering an appeal.

The city councilor arrived at Kaohsiung International Airport at 2 p.m. on Sunday and was immediately searched by prosecutors.

The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office said it will seek out relevant evidence under the law to detail Huang’s alleged crimes. Huang has since denied the accusations. He said in a KMT LINE group on Friday that his trip to China was prearranged and he planned to return afterward.