Sentenced to 12 Years in First Trial for NT$200,000 Corruption Case, Yilan's Sansing Township Mayor Announces Retirement from Politics
Li Chih-yung, the mayor of Sansing Township in Yilan County, received a heavy 12-year prison sentence in the first trial for accepting a NT$200,000 bribe. While denying the charge and planning to appeal, he has announced his withdrawal from politics.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 22:52
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 23:02 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 01:33 (2h 31m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Yilan County, 21st) Li Chih-yung, the KMT mayor of Sansing Township in Yilan County, involved in a corruption case, was found by the Yilan District Court today to have accepted a bribe of NT$200,000. He was heavily sentenced to 12 years in prison and deprived of his civil rights for 3 years. Li denied taking the bribe, will appeal, and also announced his withdrawal from politics and elections.
At the end of 2019, Li was suspected of pre-arranging a bid for a contractor and subsequently receiving a NT$200,000 bribe, leading to his indictment by prosecutors. The Yilan District Court today sentenced him to a 12-year prison term and a 3-year deprivation of civil rights under the Anti-Corruption Act's bribery clause, with the possibility of appeal. According to the Local Government Act, Li must be suspended from his duties.
As Li's two terms as township mayor were about to expire, supporters had recently been encouraging him to run for county councilor again at the end of the year. Unexpectedly, he was sentenced to 12 years in his corruption case. Because the prison term exceeds 10 years, according to the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, those whose sentences are not yet final may not register as candidates. This means Li can no longer switch to run for county councilor at the end of the year.
After the court's verdict this afternoon, Li not only stated he would appeal but also announced on Facebook in the evening that he calmly faces the first-instance judgment. He expressed deep regret that the conviction was based solely on the contractor's single, unsubstantiated testimony, without direct evidence of him receiving the bribe.
Li stated that he never violated his duties to pre-arrange a contractor, nor did he receive any bribes. He said he respects the judiciary with a clear conscience and is therefore announcing his withdrawal from politics and elections. He will serve the public from the perspective of a volunteer and observer, stating that his role is different, but his original intention remains the same, and he believes that justice will prevail. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150421
At the end of 2019, Li was suspected of pre-arranging a bid for a contractor and subsequently receiving a NT$200,000 bribe, leading to his indictment by prosecutors. The Yilan District Court today sentenced him to a 12-year prison term and a 3-year deprivation of civil rights under the Anti-Corruption Act's bribery clause, with the possibility of appeal. According to the Local Government Act, Li must be suspended from his duties.
As Li's two terms as township mayor were about to expire, supporters had recently been encouraging him to run for county councilor again at the end of the year. Unexpectedly, he was sentenced to 12 years in his corruption case. Because the prison term exceeds 10 years, according to the Civil Servants Election and Recall Act, those whose sentences are not yet final may not register as candidates. This means Li can no longer switch to run for county councilor at the end of the year.
After the court's verdict this afternoon, Li not only stated he would appeal but also announced on Facebook in the evening that he calmly faces the first-instance judgment. He expressed deep regret that the conviction was based solely on the contractor's single, unsubstantiated testimony, without direct evidence of him receiving the bribe.
Li stated that he never violated his duties to pre-arrange a contractor, nor did he receive any bribes. He said he respects the judiciary with a clear conscience and is therefore announcing his withdrawal from politics and elections. He will serve the public from the perspective of a volunteer and observer, stating that his role is different, but his original intention remains the same, and he believes that justice will prevail. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150421