Former Tainan Speaker Kuo Hsin-liang Granted Bail for NT$1 Million in Embezzlement Case

(CNA, Tainan, July 1) - Tainan investigators yesterday searched locations related to former Tainan City Council Speaker and current Tainan City Councilor Kuo Hsin-liang, summoning 20 people. The Tainan District Prosecutors Office determined that Kuo was involved in embezzling over NT$10 million for public welfare purposes and requested his detention early this morning. The Tainan District Court ruled to grant him bail for NT$1 million.

Yesterday, the Tainan District Prosecutors Office, under the direction of the Investigation Bureau's Tainan City Investigation Bureau, Kaohsiung City Investigation Bureau, and Southern Region Mobile Work Station, searched 25 locations related to Kuo Hsin-liang and seized evidence. Kuo Hsin-liang and Ms. Huang, a female employee of his service office, were summoned as defendants, along with 18 witnesses. After interrogation early this morning, detention was requested for Kuo and Huang.

The Tainan District Court ruled to grant Kuo Hsin-liang bail for NT$1 million and restrict his residence. Ms. Huang was granted bail for NT$100,000 and restricted her residence. The case is subject to appeal.

The Tainan District Prosecutors Office determined that Kuo Hsin-liang and Ms. Huang allegedly jointly embezzled funds from the political donation account and the cultural and educational association account between 2018 and 2022. These funds were legally designated for specific expenditures or public welfare projects. The amount exceeded NT$10 million, and they are suspected of violating Article 336, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code concerning embezzlement for public welfare, with substantial evidence.

Kuo Hsin-liang, an independent, is involved in a municipal land readjustment scandal, accused of accepting bribes and extortion of NT$13 million. The Tainan District Court sentenced him to 13 years in prison on November 113 (2024). The case is currently on appeal to the Taiwan High Court Tainan Branch, which overturned the conviction and ruled him not guilty in October last year. The Tainan High Prosecutors Office has appealed to the Supreme Court.

Additionally, Kuo Hsin-liang is involved in a photovoltaic development scandal. The Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office indicted him on charges of corruption and other offenses. Furthermore, it was discovered that he allegedly provided land for a construction company to dump approximately 49,000 cubic meters of construction waste. The Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office filed an additional indictment in December last year for violations of the Waste Disposal Act, seeking a sentence of 3 years and 6 months. (Edited by Huang Ming-hsi) 1150701

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