Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiang Lien-fu (
Chiang is the second legislator-elect to be indicted on suspicion of vote-buying after the KMT's Lee Yi-ting (
Prosecutors requested that the Taichung District Court sentence Chiang to five years in jail and to suspend his political rights for an additional five years.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
Chiang is suspected of paying a Taiping Township (太平) councilor surnamed Lin NT$50,000 (US$1,500) to buy votes for him.
Prosecutors seized video footage of Chiang offering Lin the money and asking him to distribute it. Lin is not seen accepting the money.
Prosecutors said Chiang also attempted to bribe a relative of his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rival Chien Chao-tung (
Four of Chiang's campaign staffers were indicted along with Chiang for their alleged involvement in the case.
Although Chiang and Lee have been indicted, they will assume their legislative seats on Friday. Prosecutors said they would file a suit with the district court seeking to annul Chiang's election win.
Chiang said after being indicted that he respected the judiciary and hoped the court would treat him fairly and clear his name.
When asked for comment in Tainan, KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said he regretted the decision by prosecutors to indict Chiang, adding that he hoped the court would give Chiang a fair trial.
Ministry of Justice officials said yesterday several other legislators-elect would also be indicted based on evidence they had gathered.
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