TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Changhua District Prosecutors Office questioned Changhua County Council Speaker Hsieh Tien-lin (謝典霖) and 19 other people on Wednesday over a banquet held at the Changhua County Council in June.
The prosecutors office said controversy surrounding the banquet, which was attended by residents of Xihu Township, prompted it to investigate the event, per Liberty Times. It said evidence gathered during the investigation had led prosecutors to summon individuals connected to the banquet for further questioning.
Executive Yuan Central Taiwan Joint Services Center Deputy Executive Officer Wu Yin-ning (吳音寧) alleged in a Facebook post that Hsieh had held the banquet to help his cousin, Chen Chen-fei (陳貞妃), win the Xihu Township mayoral election, per NOWNews. She questioned whether Hsieh had paid for the banquet out of his own pocket or used county council resources to cover the expense, suggesting that the event could have violated the Public Officials Election and Recall Act.
Hsieh said at the time that the county council welcomes members of the public to visit and learn about its work, per Tai Sounds. The council said the banquet was not organized by local political figures and stressed that no public funds were used. Chen’s campaign also said no public funds were used for the event, per UDN.
In addition to Hsieh and Chen, notable attendees at the June banquet included Hsieh’s father, Hsieh Hsin-lung (謝新隆), KMT Changhua County magistrate candidate Wei Ping-cheng (魏平政), and former Xihu Township Mayor Chen Wen-han (陳文漢). Chen is also a potential partner for Hsieh in the next county council speakership race. Borough chiefs and farmers’ association officials also attended the event.
Wei, commenting on his attendance, said he attended to gain exposure and did not know the purpose of the banquet, per SETN.
