From 40 Million to 36 Checks: KMT Female Politicians Press Zheng Chao-fang on Campaign Fund Controversy

The campaign finance controversy in the Hsinchu County magistrate election continues to escalate. On the 11th, KMT legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin and Taipei City Councilor Yu Shu-hui posted consecutively on Facebook, re-questioning multiple financial transactions involving Cheng Chao-fang, the DPP's Hsinchu County magistrate candidate and current mayor of Zhubei City. They pointed out that from the previously exposed 40 million NTD election loan to the newly revealed 36 checks totaling 12,615,012 NTD, there are concrete figures and documents. If Cheng's camp continues to respond with silence, it will be difficult to dispel public doubts.

Hsu stated that she had previously raised questions about Cheng's campaign funding during his 2018 Hsinchu County magistrate run. According to Wu Tzu-chia, chairman of the Beautiful Island Electronic Newspaper, former Hsinchu County Magistrate Cheng Yung-chin allegedly raised 40 million NTD for his son's election campaign. However, Cheng Chao-fang reported only about 18.1 million NTD in campaign expenditures to the Control Yuan, leaving a gap of approximately 21.9 million NTD. Hsu questioned where the missing funds went if the 40 million was indeed used for the election, and whether the reporting was complete if the funds were used but not declared.

Hsu further noted that on the 10th, Wu Tzu-chia revealed photocopies of 36 checks on a web program, claiming that between 2013 and 2018, Cheng Chao-fang received checks from Yuan Fang Innovation Co., Ltd. and its former chairman Hsu Yi-ming, totaling 12,615,012 NTD across 36 checks. Hsu emphasized that the controversy has now moved from verbal allegations to document-based scrutiny, urging Cheng to clarify the legal nature, purpose, and actual receipt of these check payments.

Yu Shuhui also highlighted current public concerns, including the 36 checks, approximately 5 million NTD in 'dry shares,' monthly payments of 150,000 NTD, alleged '3% interest,' the 40 million NTD election loan, and claims of 15 million NTD transferred into a personal account. She stressed that these issues involve millions to tens of millions of NTD and should not be dismissed with mere silence.

Yu criticized Cheng's camp for adopting a strategy of 'no response, acting as if nothing happened, waiting for the storm to pass.' She emphasized that silence does not equate to innocence. As the current mayor of Zhubei and the DPP's candidate for Hsinchu County magistrate, Cheng would oversee major county-wide infrastructure and public budgets, thus bearing a greater responsibility to undergo public scrutiny and provide a full account of personal and family financial controversies.

Most of the current allegations stem from public criticisms by Wu Tzu-chia and KMT politicians. Whether they constitute legal violations remains to be determined through evidence and investigation by competent authorities. Cheng's camp previously responded to the 40 million NTD loan issue with 'no comment' via a media liaison. With the new wave of 36 checks data surfacing, the KMT's offensive is intensifying, making Cheng's potential response a key battleground in the Hsinchu County magistrate race.