Hualien County Social Affairs Director Chen Jiafu Charged Over Earthquake Relief Fund Misuse
Hualien County’s Social Affairs Director Chen Jiafu is under investigation for alleged corruption linked to donations collected after the 2018 Hualien earthquake. Prosecutors and the Investigation Bureau conducted raids on the county’s Social Affairs Department and related offices on July 29, seizing documents and questioning officials. Chen posted bail of NT$400,000 and was placed under residence and travel restrictions. A co‑defendant identified only by the surname Zhuang posted bail of NT$57,000.
The case focuses on the handling of roughly NT$25 billion in earthquake relief funds, with previous audits raising concerns about procurement irregularities and the diversion of funds to projects not directly assisting victims. Hualien County officials stressed that the investigation has spanned several years, that they are cooperating with judicial authorities, and warned that the timing of the probe ahead of elections could be seen as politically motivated.
Entities: Chen Jia-fu · Chen Jiafu · Fu Kun-chi · Hualien County Government · Hualien County Government · Pegatron · Taiwan Prosecutors Office · Tong Zixian
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A co‑defendant named Zhuang posted bail of NT$57,000. (511fcac1-f12f-4c56-9114-876471d67f60)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Chen Jiafu posted bail of NT$400,000. (3fcad65e-e666-41b4-8df2-07839ef97bcf, 511fcac1-f12f-4c56-9114-876471d67f60)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The case involves alleged violations of Taiwan’s Anti‑Corruption Act. (511fcac1-f12f-4c56-9114-876471d67f60)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The investigation concerns about NT$25 billion in donations collected after the 2018 Hualien earthquake. (8c50e9e6-16a2-4be4-8886-a2ebcd1f6e5e)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Prosecutors and the Investigation Bureau conducted searches of the Social Affairs Department and other offices on July 29. (511fcac1-f12f-4c56-9114-876471d67f60)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Chen Jiafu, Hualien County Social Affairs Director, was investigated for alleged corruption involving earthquake relief funds. (3fcad65e-e666-41b4-8df2-07839ef97bcf, 511fcac1-f12f-4c56-9114-876471d67f60, 8c50e9e6-16a2-4be4-8886-a2ebcd1f6e5e)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The county warned that the timing of the investigation near elections could be politically motivated. (3fcad65e-e666-41b4-8df2-07839ef97bcf)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Hualien County government said the case spanned several years and multiple investigations. (3fcad65e-e666-41b4-8df2-07839ef97bcf)