Dingsheng Village Election Sparks 'Illegal Waste Disposal, Flag Planting Beside Warehouse' Allegations — Ku Po-yuan Fires Back: 'Defamatory Claims, Legal Action Reserved'

Ku Po-yuan, a candidate for village chief in Ding Sheng Li, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City, has recently drawn public attention—but also faced accusations on social media platforms. In response to posts claiming he once dumped renovation waste in front of someone else’s warehouse and planted campaign flags nearby, Ku appeared today (the 14th) to clarify that the related flags had already been self-removed. He stated that the posts contain outdated and false information, and that he has preserved screenshots as evidence, reserving the right to take legal action to defend his reputation.

Ku explained that his company, Baoyuan Renovation & Construction, specializes in home repair and interior renovation. Years ago, the company rented a warehouse adjacent to DongX Protection Engineering Co. At that time, one of his employees, seeing waste already piled beside the neighboring warehouse, mistakenly assumed it was an acceptable temporary storage spot and placed a few wooden boards from their work truck onto the existing pile. The incident later led to a report and a request for NT$20,000 in cleanup fees.

Flags Already Removed — Lawyer: Spreading False Information During Elections May Violate Election Act

Ku pointed out that while both parties are still undergoing legal procedures over the dispute, the other side recently reposted photos and text on social media, stating: 'The village chief candidate from Ding Sheng Li, Sanmin District, not only dumped renovation waste in front of our warehouse before, but also planted flags beside it. It's really disgusting.' Ku argued that such statements could easily mislead the public and constitute reputational damage, thus he is reserving legal recourse.

He further clarified that the involved Liu, an employee over 60 years old with mild physical and mental disabilities, was hired based on Ku’s principle of supporting vulnerable individuals. On the day of the incident, Mr. Liu momentarily failed to notice and placed the wooden boards atop the clutter already prepared for removal in front of the neighboring property. Ku deemed the NT$20,000 cleanup fee unreasonable and refused payment, leading to the ongoing dispute.

Ku questioned why this long-standing issue resurfaced precisely during a critical phase of the election, suggesting it may link an existing civil dispute to the electoral race. He emphasized that he ran for village chief to serve the community and that any information potentially influencing voters’ judgment must be addressed.

Regarding the legal implications of spreading such information during elections, a practicing lawyer noted that intentionally disseminating rumors or false information via text, images, audio, video, or speeches—with the aim of affecting a candidate’s election outcome—could violate Article 104 of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act if it causes harm to the public or individuals. However, judicial authorities would need to assess specific content, intent, and evidence.

Ku fired back, saying, 'Before shaving others’ beards, shave your own first.' He challenged the accuser to examine their own conduct if they’re raising concerns about waste disposal. He alleged that DongX Company has repeatedly placed renovation waste on the sidewalk in front of their warehouse and recently stacked multiple bundles of PP boards and door panels beyond the eaves, obstructing pedestrian passage.

Ku stressed that if true, environmental and waste management standards should apply equally—criticizing others while ignoring one’s own violations is unfair. He emphasized that as a renovation business operator, he consistently instructs workers to properly dispose of demolition waste to avoid harming the environment or residents’ rights.

Ku added that at the end of last year, he established the 'Kaohsiung City Sanmin District Baoyuan Dingsheng Caring for Vulnerable Community Development Association,' which provides emergency relief, organizes patrol teams for neighborhood watch, and assists in cleaning community environments. He underscored his long-term commitment to local service, making it implausible that he would knowingly commit illegal dumping.

Finally, Ku insisted that election competition should focus on policy and community service. He vowed not to remain silent against attempts to manipulate voter perception using outdated or unverified information. Having preserved all social media posts and images as evidence, he plans to legally defend his reputation and urged voters to make rational judgments, unaffected by unsubstantiated claims.