Changhua Council Speaker Hsieh Tien-lin and Parents Detained on Bribery Suspicions; Sister Hsieh I-feng Responds with Four-Word Statement

The Changhua District Prosecutors Office conducted a large-scale raid over allegations of vote-buying linked to a dinner event hosted by the Changhua County Council for residents of Xihu Township in June this year. Citing significant suspicion of violations of the Public Officials Election and Recall Act—specifically, vote-buying—and concerns over potential evidence tampering, collusion, or flight risk, prosecutors arrested and requested pre-trial detention for five individuals, including Council Speaker Hsieh Tien-lin, his father Hsieh Hsin-lung, and his mother Cheng Ju-fen, a former legislator.

In a press release today, the Changhua District Prosecutors Office stated that the June dinner event attended by residents of Xihu Township had sparked controversy. The case was immediately assigned to prosecutors, who, with the assistance of investigators from the Changhua County Investigation Station, obtained relevant documents from the County Council. Armed with search warrants issued by the Changhua District Court, authorities executed searches at nine locations, including the residences of the suspects, and seized related evidence.

After interrogation, prosecutors determined that Hsieh Tien-lin, Hsieh Hsin-lung, Cheng Ju-fen, and three others faced substantial charges under the Public Officials Election and Recall Act for vote-buying. Given the risks of flight, destruction of evidence, and collusion with accomplices or witnesses, prosecutors deemed detention necessary and requested the court to approve pre-trial detention.

Regarding the detention request involving her younger brother Hsieh Tien-lin and her parents Hsieh Hsin-lung and Cheng Ju-fen, Hsieh I-feng, a Kuomintang legislator and sister of the accused, responded today (17th) to media inquiries with only four words: 'Thank you for your concern,' according to TVBS reporting.