TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei District Court issued a wanted notice Monday for legislative aide Chang Chun-chieh (張俊傑) after he allegedly damaged and discarded his electronic monitoring device before disappearing.
CNA reported that Chang’s electronic monitor sent a low-battery alert late Saturday, prompting police to search for him. The judge overseeing the case joined officers in the search after the monitoring system provided Chang’s location.
Police and the judge later found the damaged device, but Chang could not be located. The court also reported him to prosecutors for allegedly damaging public property.
The court asked immigration authorities to tighten border controls to prevent Chang from leaving Taiwan. It issued the wanted notice Monday, which will remain in effect until Jan. 21, 2059.
Chang is an aide to independent Legislator Ciwas Ali (高金素梅), who was indicted with him and 22 others on corruption-related charges in June. Prosecutors accused Chang of working with Ciwas to fraudulently claim legislative assistant subsidies.
Chang was also accused of using several associations to improperly obtain subsidies from government agencies and state-owned companies. Prosecutors have sought a prison sentence of more than 16 years for Chang and more than 12 years and six months for Ciwas.
After the case was transferred to Taipei District Court, a judge granted Chang bail with travel restrictions and electronic monitoring. Chang appeared in court on Sept. 1 and denied fraudulently obtaining legislative assistant subsidies while admitting to offenses including document forgery.
He said he had performed legitimate work as a legislative aide and denied intending to fraudulently obtain the subsidies.
