Former DPP Legislator Chen Ou-po Sentenced to 16 Years for Corruption and Fraudulent Assistant Claims of NT$8.74 Million; Civil Rights Revoked for 6 Years

Former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Chen Ou-po has been found guilty of corruption and fraudulent claims of assistant fees, with illicit gains totaling over NT$8.74 million. The Taipei District Court delivered a first-instance verdict today, sentencing Chen to 16 years imprisonment and deprivation of civil rights for 6 years. His wife, Hsu Hui-yu, was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months imprisonment and 3 years deprivation of civil rights. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office had indicted Chen Ou-po, Hsu Hui-yu, and 14 others last August, seeking a 24-year and 2-month sentence for Chen. Investigations revealed that Chen Ou-po allegedly misused his legislative authority from January 2016 to July 2023 to protect business operators through legislative means, receiving over NT$4.63 million in improper benefits. Additionally, from February 2012 to November 2022, he allegedly inflated the salaries of several public assistants, with the inflated amounts withdrawn in cash to serve as office petty cash or used as instructed by him and his wife, totaling over NT$4.11 million in fraudulent claims. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office will review the judgment to decide whether to appeal.