Luping Wu's Brother Fan Chih-Chin Bailed for NT$1.2M in Bribery Case; KMT Mocks: 'Tip of the Iceberg' for New Tide Faction

Fan Chih-Chin, the half-brother of Indigenous legislator Luping Wu, is suspected of accepting kickbacks from construction projects and violating anti-corruption laws. On the 6th, prosecutors and investigators conducted searches at nine locations, including Fan's office and residence, and questioned him overnight. On the 7th, prosecutors arrested him and requested pre-trial detention. The court, acknowledging the severity of the charges and risks of flight or witness tampering, granted bail of NT$1.2 million with restrictions on residence and contact with witnesses.

In response, KMT spokesperson and Kaohsiung councilor Chen Li-Na sarcastically stated on the 9th that the DPP's New Tide faction—from Wu Nai-Jen in the Taiwan Sugar case to Fan Chih-Chin—inevitably sparks controversy once it gains control of state resources. 'What we’re seeing now is just the tip of the iceberg,' she said.

Alleged Kickbacks in Public Projects: Nine Locations Searched, Fan Released on NT$1.2M Bail with Residence Restrictions

According to sources, after receiving tips, authorities launched an in-depth investigation and found that Fan, leveraging his position as a city councilor, solicited bribes and kickbacks ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of NT dollars from multiple design firms, construction companies, and civil engineering contractors. The Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office directed the Kaohsiung Investigation Bureau to conduct searches at nine locations, including Fan’s service office, residence, and companies involved, and summoned eight individuals for questioning.

Fan, 69, is an independent councilor representing mountain indigenous communities. A former educator, he became a school principal at age 38—the youngest and first Indigenous principal in Kaohsiung County. He served as principal at Xingzhong Elementary in Taoyuan District, Maolin Elementary, and Duona Elementary. Later, he was recruited by former Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu to serve as Director of the Indigenous Peoples Commission, entering politics. He ran for Kaohsiung City Council in 2018, assumed office in 2019 after fellow councilor Tang Hui-Mei was disqualified, and was re-elected in 2022.

Regarding her relative’s case, Luping Wu said, 'There’s not much I can say. I will fully cooperate with the judicial process. This will be a long and heavy journey, and we leave it to the judiciary to clarify. My family will walk this path with him—we will never let him face it alone.'

'Nanliu' Power Grab Criticized: Chen Li-Na Fires Back, 'New Tide Always Sparks Controversy When in Power'

Chen Li-Na criticized that Fan, as Wu’s brother and a Chen Chu appointee to the Indigenous Commission, exemplifies the 'Nanliu' (Southern Flow) faction’s aggressive takeover of government posts when Chen Chu moved to Taipei as Presidential Office Secretary-General. 'Their power grab was disgraceful, and problems have since emerged one after another,' she said.

She cited former Vice Mayor Chen Chi-Yu’s alleged embezzlement at Taiwan Salt’s green energy subsidiary and former Legal Affairs Chief Hsu Ming-Chun, who, as Labor Minister, used employment stability funds for concerts. Chen mocked that Fan and DPP Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Lai Jui-Long followed the same path—transitioning from officials to legislators. Lai became a legislator in 2016; Fan was elected councilor in 2018. Though Fan’s guilt is not yet confirmed, the investigation reveals that rumors about New Tide’s misconduct may not be baseless.

'From Wu Nai-Jen’s Taiwan Sugar case to Fan Chih-Chin, the New Tide faction always generates controversy once it controls state resources. What we see now is just the tip of the iceberg. How many more 'Nanliu' figures are waiting to reclaim power in Kaohsiung? If they return to power, will Kaohsiung fall back into endless debt without real development? This New Tide is truly terrifying,' Chen warned.