TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei District Prosecutors Office on Monday charged KMT Taipei branch chief Huang Lu Chin-ju (黃呂錦茹), along with four other individuals, on charges of forging thousands of recall petition signatures targeting two DPP legislators.

Investigations revealed that the forgery rates exceeded 90% in both cases. The recall campaign against legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) involved the submission of 2,537 signatures, showing a 96.2% forgery rate, while the petition drive targeting legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) involved 2,674 forged forms, amounting to a 94.18% falsification rate, CNA reported.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office launched the investigation following a complaint that alleged irregularities in the recall groups for the two DPP legislators. Beginning April 14, prosecutors conducted multiple operations, resulting in the detention and visitation restrictions of Huang, chapter secretary-general Chu Wen-ching (初文卿), and chapter secretary Yao Fu-wen (姚富文).

The investigation concluded on Monday. Huang, Chu, Yao, and three other defendants currently in custody are scheduled to be transferred to the Taipei District Court for trial on Tuesday.

The accused face charges under the Personal Data Protection Act and for forging official documents under the Criminal Code. Prosecutors stated a total of 5,211 recall petition forms were fabricated.

According to prosecutors, the defendants bypassed standard procedures for collecting voter signatures and submitted a large number of forged petition forms within a short period, which violated legal regulations and undermined the trust of KMT members and supporters.

Prosecutors further noted that the three principal defendants either denied the allegations or downplayed critical facts during the investigation. Their lack of remorse was highlighted as seriously damaging to democratic principles.

The prosecution has urged the court to impose heavy sentences on all involved.

The recall efforts intensified last December after KMT and TPP legislators approved a government budget that cut NT$207.5 billion (US$7 billion) from the Cabinet’s original proposal. In response, DPP caucus leader Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) initiated a campaign to recall 41 KMT legislators.

This, in turn, prompted KMT supporters to launch counter-recall campaigns targeting four DPP lawmakers in districts with strong KMT support.