TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) faced questioning Thursday about allegations she embezzled her legislative aide’s payments.

Investigators searched her home in Kaohsiung and her office at the Legislative Yuan, where they were seen taking away boxes of evidence, the Liberty Times reported. Her office denied the allegations.

As she was being led into a Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau in Kaohsiung, Lin, 52, suddenly held up a piece of paper and started shouting at the media. “Politics interferes with the judiciary, and the judiciary interferes with the primaries,” she said.

Lin was believed to be referring to the DPP primaries for mayor of Kaohsiung, which she wanted to participate in. Incumbent Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) cannot run for a third consecutive term in the election expected at the end of 2026.

Before Lin, former Taiwan People’s Party lawmaker Kao Hung-an (高虹安) was also accused of embezzling aide payments. The Taipei District Court sentenced her to seven years and four months in prison, though the Taiwan High Court still has to complete its review of the case. The allegations emerged after she had left the legislature and was elected as mayor of Hsinchu City.