TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Four individuals detained in connection with a forged signature scheme targeting DPP city councilors in Keelung were released on bail Friday after admitting to the charges during a court hearing.

The Keelung District Prosecutors Office on Friday indicted seven people for allegedly falsifying signatures on recall petitions against DPP City Councilors Cheng Wen-ting (鄭文婷) and Chang Ji-ho (張之豪). The charges include offenses under the Criminal Code for altering private documents and violations of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act.

Among those indicted are Wu Kuo-sheng (吳國勝), former head of the KMT's Keelung City Party Committee, and Chang Yuan-hsiang (張淵翔), former director of the KMT's Keelung Civil Affairs Department, according to CNA.

Keelung District Court held a detention hearing Friday night for four of the accused who were still in custody, including Wu and Chang. All four admitted to the allegations outlined in the indictment.

Based on their confessions and supporting evidence, the court approved their release on bail ranging from NT$150,000 (US$5,135) to NT$500,000 and imposed restrictions on their place of residence.

The recall efforts stem from 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.

KMT supporters responded by initiating counter-recall efforts aimed at DPP legislators representing districts with strong KMT support.