Election Billboards of 7 City Council Candidates Vandalized in Taipei's Neihu District; Suspect Arrested

(Central News Agency, Reporter Huang Liyun, Taipei, June 4) In Taipei's Neihu District, election billboards of seven city council candidates from various parties were recently vandalized. Police have apprehended a woman in her 40s, surnamed Hsueh, who confessed to the graffiti, stating she was unemployed and in a bad mood, and had no specific political motive. The case has been processed according to the law.

Kuomintang Taipei City Councilor Li Ming-hsien posted on Facebook that a citizen reported his billboard on Minquan East Road had been 'maliciously damaged.' An assistant went to check and found the face on the billboard had been graffitied. Democratic Progressive Party city council candidate Kao Chia-yu also posted on Facebook, saying, 'I heard everyone's billboards at the Chengming-Minquan Circle have been turned into little flower cats,' and attached a photo of her portrait being defaced.

The Wende Police Station of the Neihu Precinct stated that they received a report from a public servant's service office, indicating that campaign banners for city council candidates along Section 2, Chenggong Road had been vandalized the previous evening. A total of seven people, including incumbent city councilors from both the Blue (KMT) and Green (DPP) camps as well as newcomers, were affected. A special task force was immediately established to investigate.

Investigations revealed that some campaign banners were defaced with correction fluid or markers, drawing the character '王' (king) and mustaches. Police reviewed surveillance footage, compared handwriting and physical characteristics, and identified Hsueh as a prime suspect.

The task force apprehended Hsueh for questioning. She confessed to the graffiti, stating she was in a bad mood due to unemployment and had no specific partisan intent. The case has been forwarded for prosecution under the Criminal Code's damage of property articles and the Social Order Maintenance Act.

The Neihu Precinct urged the public to express their opinions rationally and respect others' property as the election approaches, warning against impulsive actions that break the law. The police stated they will strictly enforce the law against any acts that disrupt social order or challenge law enforcement authority, to maintain public safety and the fairness of the election. (Editor: Hsiao Po-wen) 1150604