TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Prosecutors on Tuesday searched the office and residence of Highland Aborigine Constituency Legislator Ciwas Ali (高金素梅) as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and infiltration.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office, working with the Investigation Bureau, carried out the search. The Legislative Yuan said it was notified in advance in accordance with established procedures and assigned staff to assist investigators, per UDN. It said it would not comment further due to the principle of investigative secrecy and stressed it was not familiar with the details of the case.
KMT Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) said on Facebook that prosecutors also searched Ciwas’ residence in Taipei’s Yangmingshan area, likening the action to political oppression, per CNA. Liberty Times reported that investigators seized Ciwas’ cellphone and hard drives.
Local media have reported that Ciwas is under investigation on suspicion of corruption and receiving funds from China during election campaigns. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office and the Investigation Bureau declined to confirm the reports or provide further details.
Subsequent reporting said Ciwas may be linked to a separate bribery case involving Pingtung County Councilor Aljui Piyuvel (越秋女). Aljui, a former assistant to Ciwas, has been accused of bribing constituents by distributing Chinese anti-pandemic supplies during the 2022 local elections, per Tai Sounds. Aljui was found not guilty by the court.
Ciwas, Aljui and several staff members from Ciwas’ office were taken in for further questioning, per Liberty Times. Ciwas is also suspected of defrauding the Legislative Yuan through improper claims for assistant salaries.
KMT Deputy Secretary-General Lin Pei-hsiang (林沛祥) said he believes in Ciwas’ innocence, citing the principle of innocent until proven guilty, per UDN. KMT Legislator Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) urged prosecutors to prevent leaks from the ongoing investigation.
TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) said he was shocked by the news but refrained from further comment, calling on prosecutors to uphold neutrality and the rule of law, per Newtalk.
DPP Legislative Caucus Secretary-General Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) rejected Lo’s characterization of the search, questioning why he rushed to Ciwas’ defense if she is innocent, per SETN. Chen said the DPP would wait for the investigation to conclude before making judgments, but expressed reservations based on Ciwas’ past remarks.
Chen cited an incident in which Ciwas referred to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as “our chair” during a legislative questioning session.
