The Chiayi District Court on Wednesday sentenced independent Chiayi City Councilor Dai Ning (戴寧) to 10 years and six months in prison for embezzling staff expenses.
Dai’s lawyer said they would appeal.
According to the indictment, Dai from June 2012 to February last year personally collected the government-funded salaries of four people listed as staff who did not work for her.
Photo: Wang Shan-yan, Taipei Times
A total of NT$5.18 million (US$165,933) in monthly salaries and bonuses was remitted to their bank accounts, it said, adding that Dai either had access to the accounts or the holders transferred the money to her.
Dai denied knowing about the scheme, saying that her father, a former councilor who died not long after Dai was arrested, was responsible for hiring her staff.
Prosecutors sought a severe term of 24 years given what they called a “lack of remorse” and trying to pass responsibility to her father.
She was remanded into custody on March 13 last year and released on bail on Sept. 19. During that time, a family member helped her register for the election, and she was re-elected that November.
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