TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An office director for Deputy Legislative Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) is accused of misusing an official vehicle assigned to the post, prompting Chiang to request a review of the matter.
The aide, surnamed Lin (林), has served in Chiang’s office for more than a decade, per Mirror Media. Allegations of vehicle misuse surfaced after Chiang assumed the deputy speakership, a position that comes with an assigned official vehicle. Lin is accused of asking drivers to take her home or pick up her children after Chiang had exited the vehicle, per Mirror Media.
During a dinner event hosted by Chiang at the official residence of the deputy speaker on Dec. 15, Lin allegedly kept the official vehicle on site after the driver dropped off Chiang. She later asked the driver to take her home, extending the driver’s workday until about 11:25 p.m.
Sources familiar with Legislative Yuan regulations said staff members of the deputy speaker may request vehicle dispatch through official channels, but limited availability may have led Lin to rely on the deputy speaker’s assigned vehicle.
Lin responded to the reports by saying the Legislative Yuan had already commented on the matter and that many of the allegations lacked factual accuracy, per Tai Sounds.
Chiang said he has instructed the General Affairs Department to look into the incident, per UDN. He added that if violations are confirmed, corrective action will be taken and that a second offense would result in termination.
A Legislative Yuan source said existing rules do not clearly specify the order of passenger pickup and drop-off during official trips, suggesting that Lin did not violate existing rules.
Democratic Progressive Party caucus director Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱) said the alleged use clearly violates existing rules and warrants further review, per Liberty Times. DPP Legislator and Taichung mayoral candidate Ho Hsin-chun (何欣純) called on the Legislative Yuan to clarify and tighten regulations governing official vehicles for the speaker and deputy speakers, per UDN.
Ho said the rules should apply equally to everyone.
