Legislator Kao Chin Su-mei's Assistant Chang Chun-chieh's Detention Extended for 2 Months in 3 Cases of Embezzlement
Taipei District Court extended the detention of Chang Chun-chieh, assistant to Legislator Kao Chin Su-mei, for two months until June 10, 2026. Chang is implicated in three cases: embezzling public assistant salaries, defrauding subsidies from government agencies through the Taiwan Indigenous Multi-Ethnic Cultural Exchange Association (founded by Kao Chin Su-mei) between 2015 and 2018, and illegally importing large quantities of COVID-19 test kits from China in 2022 by using multiple individuals to circumvent import limits. Kao Chin Su-mei was released on NT$1 million bail. Investigations by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office and the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau involved searches at 30 locations and questioning 17 individuals. Chang Chun-chieh is considered a key figure in all three cases and is detained due to flight risk and potential for collusion.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 16:35
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 17:01 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 13, 2026 at 17:14 (12 min after Collected)
Legislator Kao Chin Su-mei and her assistant Chang Chun-chieh are involved in three cases: embezzlement of assistant salaries, illegal import of COVID-19 test kits, and fraudulent claims for association subsidies. Kao Chin Su-mei was released on NT$1 million bail. Chang Chun-chieh's detention was extended by the Taipei District Court until June 10, 2026, as his previous detention period was expiring. Investigations by prosecutors and the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau revealed that during Kao Chin Su-mei's tenure as a legislator, she and Chang Chun-chieh allegedly used dummy assistants to embezzle public assistant salaries, constituting a corruption offense. The specific period and amount are still under investigation. The Taiwan Indigenous Multi-Ethnic Cultural Exchange Association, founded by Kao Chin Su-mei, is suspected of defrauding subsidies from government departments and state-owned enterprises between 2015 and 2018. This was allegedly done by falsely reporting expenses or claiming activities that did not occur, in collusion with two vendors who issued fake invoices. This involves offenses of forgery and fraud under the Criminal Code. Chang Chun-chieh is suspected of instructing assistants to launder illicit gains. In May and June 2022, the Ministry of Health and Welfare relaxed regulations for personal import of COVID-19 test kits, allowing individuals to import up to 100 kits once without special approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Investigators found that Kao Chin Su-mei and Chang Chun-chieh allegedly used multiple individuals as straw persons to import large quantities of COVID-19 test kits from China, breaking them down into batches of under 100 kits per person to circumvent regulations. This is suspected to violate the Medical Devices Act. On February 10, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office directed the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau National Security Maintenance Station to search 30 locations, including Kao Chin Su-mei's residence and parliamentary office, and questioned 17 individuals. Kao Chin Su-mei was released on February 11 after questioning due to discomfort, with travel restrictions imposed. She was questioned again on February 13 and released on NT$1 million bail. Chang Chun-chieh was deemed by prosecutors to be a key orchestrator in all three cases, facing charges under the Anti-Corruption Act (embezzlement by abusing official duties), Medical Devices Act, and Criminal Code (fraud). He was detained due to concerns of flight and collusion. The remaining 11 defendants were released on bail ranging from NT$100,000 to NT$500,000, and 4 defendants were released without charge. The Taipei District Court ruled to extend Chang Chun-chieh's detention and prohibition from communication from April 11 until June 10.