Chiayi County Speaker Zhang Mingda Indicted on Corruption Charges for Allegedly Accepting Bribes and Pressuring Health Bureau

According to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office investigation, a man surnamed Liu, who is the head of several companies, and an employee surnamed Chen, imported various food products. They falsely claimed the products had medical efficacy on their radio show "Hong Nin An Xin Ju Le Bu" (宏您安心俱樂部), and sold them through radio and television slots, deceiving consumers.

Mr. Liu had repeatedly been caught violating the Food Safety and Sanitation Act. To avoid hefty fines from the health bureau, Chen began purchasing Chanel sneakers, Dior and Louis Vuitton hats, and shirts worth over NT$130,000, delivering them sequentially to Zhang Mingda's residence or through dining events as a quid pro quo. The request was to pressure the health bureau to reduce the fines from over NT$6 million to over NT$900,000.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office summoned Zhang Mingda for questioning in March, subsequently releasing him on NT$500,000 bail with restrictions on leaving the country and sea.

The prosecution indicted Zhang Mingda for bribery in violation of the Anti-Corruption Act for acts not contrary to his official duties. Liu and Chen were indicted for bribing public officials under the Anti-Corruption Act, and for fraud and endangering public health by broadcasting false claims on the radio, among other charges under the Criminal Code of the Republic of China.

Additionally, Liu was found to have instructed Chen, starting in 2023, to deliver company cash receipts directly to him. Liu then gave this money to his wife to pay for private insurance premiums, embezzling over NT$46.09 million in company funds. He was indicted for embezzlement as a business offense and money laundering.