Taipei City Councilor Chen Yi-chun Sentenced for Corruption, High Court Extends Travel Ban and Electronic Monitoring for 8 Months
Taipei City Councilor Chen Yi-chun and her office director Chang Hui-lin, who were sentenced in the first instance for corruption, have had their electronic monitoring and travel restrictions extended for another eight months by the High Court during their second-instance appeal. The High Court's decision was based on the prosecutor's request for extension and the court's judgment that there was a high likelihood of flight.
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- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 14:33
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 15:01 (27 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 15:04 (3 min after Collected)
CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY
(Taipei, CNA, May 9) – Taipei City Councilor Chen Yi-chun of the Democratic Progressive Party and her office director Chang Hui-lin, who were sentenced in the first instance for offenses under the Anti-Corruption Act, are currently undergoing review in the second instance at the Taiwan High Court. The High Court on the 7th ruled to extend electronic monitoring for the two individuals, and restrict their departure from the country and going to sea for 8 months; this ruling can be appealed.
According to the High Court's ruling, the period of restriction on departure, going to sea, and electronic device monitoring for Chen Yi-chun and Chang Hui-lin was about to expire. After consulting with the prosecutor, Chen Yi-chun, and Chang Hui-lin, the prosecutor deemed it necessary to extend the travel restrictions and electronic monitoring, while Chen Yi-chun expressed “no objection, respecting the court’s decision.”
Chang Hui-lin and his defense counsel stated that Chang Hui-lin has a fixed residence, assets, employment, and family in Taiwan. He has appeared in court as required in all previous instances, with no concrete evidence of absconding or fleeing from bail. Furthermore, he possesses no third-country passport or has any abnormal exit records. The original bail of NT$500,000 and travel restrictions should be sufficient to guarantee his court appearances, and therefore they requested not to extend the electronic monitoring.
The collegiate bench believed that Chen Yi-chun and Chang Hui-lin still have significant criminal suspicions. Based on the normal psychological fear of long-term imprisonment, there are sufficient reasons to believe there is a risk of flight. After considering all circumstances, including the details of the crime, and weighing them according to the principle of proportionality, it was deemed necessary to continue the travel restrictions and electronic monitoring to ensure the smooth progress of the trial and enforcement.
The collegiate bench ruled that Chen Yi-chun and Chang Hui-lin must extend their compliance with daily electronic check-ins using individual mobile phones from 6 PM to 10 PM for 8 months starting from the 12th, and both will have their restrictions on leaving the country and going to sea extended for 8 months starting from the 29th.
According to the first-instance judgment by the Shilin District Court of Taiwan, Chen Yi-chun and Chang Hui-lin were involved in defrauding public assistant subsidies between 2019 and 2025. On January 12, Chen Yi-chun was sentenced to 7 years and 10 months imprisonment and deprived of civil rights for 5 years for three offenses, including defrauding property by exploiting her official position and receiving bribes without violating her duties under the Anti-Corruption Act; Chang Hui-lin was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months imprisonment and deprived of civil rights for 4 years. Chang Hui-lin was also sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and fined NT$30,000 for money laundering. (Editor: Li Ming-tsung) 1150509
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(Taipei, CNA, May 9) – Taipei City Councilor Chen Yi-chun of the Democratic Progressive Party and her office director Chang Hui-lin, who were sentenced in the first instance for offenses under the Anti-Corruption Act, are currently undergoing review in the second instance at the Taiwan High Court. The High Court on the 7th ruled to extend electronic monitoring for the two individuals, and restrict their departure from the country and going to sea for 8 months; this ruling can be appealed.
According to the High Court's ruling, the period of restriction on departure, going to sea, and electronic device monitoring for Chen Yi-chun and Chang Hui-lin was about to expire. After consulting with the prosecutor, Chen Yi-chun, and Chang Hui-lin, the prosecutor deemed it necessary to extend the travel restrictions and electronic monitoring, while Chen Yi-chun expressed “no objection, respecting the court’s decision.”
Chang Hui-lin and his defense counsel stated that Chang Hui-lin has a fixed residence, assets, employment, and family in Taiwan. He has appeared in court as required in all previous instances, with no concrete evidence of absconding or fleeing from bail. Furthermore, he possesses no third-country passport or has any abnormal exit records. The original bail of NT$500,000 and travel restrictions should be sufficient to guarantee his court appearances, and therefore they requested not to extend the electronic monitoring.
The collegiate bench believed that Chen Yi-chun and Chang Hui-lin still have significant criminal suspicions. Based on the normal psychological fear of long-term imprisonment, there are sufficient reasons to believe there is a risk of flight. After considering all circumstances, including the details of the crime, and weighing them according to the principle of proportionality, it was deemed necessary to continue the travel restrictions and electronic monitoring to ensure the smooth progress of the trial and enforcement.
The collegiate bench ruled that Chen Yi-chun and Chang Hui-lin must extend their compliance with daily electronic check-ins using individual mobile phones from 6 PM to 10 PM for 8 months starting from the 12th, and both will have their restrictions on leaving the country and going to sea extended for 8 months starting from the 29th.
According to the first-instance judgment by the Shilin District Court of Taiwan, Chen Yi-chun and Chang Hui-lin were involved in defrauding public assistant subsidies between 2019 and 2025. On January 12, Chen Yi-chun was sentenced to 7 years and 10 months imprisonment and deprived of civil rights for 5 years for three offenses, including defrauding property by exploiting her official position and receiving bribes without violating her duties under the Anti-Corruption Act; Chang Hui-lin was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months imprisonment and deprived of civil rights for 4 years. Chang Hui-lin was also sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and fined NT$30,000 for money laundering. (Editor: Li Ming-tsung) 1150509
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