Wei Ping-cheng defends Hsieh family amid bribery probe

Wei Ping-cheng, a candidate for Changhua County Magistrate, has publicly defended the Hsieh family following the detention of Changhua County Council Speaker Hsieh Tien-lin and his father, Hsieh Shin-lung, in a suspected election bribery case. The investigation involves allegations that public funds were used for a banquet that served as a bribe for votes.

Cheng Ju-fen, the mother of the detained individuals and head of Wei’s campaign advisory group, was released on 1 million TWD bail. Wei criticized the timing of the prosecution’s decision to seek detention, arguing that the investigation has been ongoing for over two months and that the sudden move just before the election violates procedural justice and the principle of presumption of innocence.

Wei contended that the banquet in question, held in June, was a routine social gathering where candidates had not yet officially registered, making the claim of a ‘quid pro quo’ for votes unsubstantiated. He expressed concern that such judicial actions could set a precedent that threatens the rights of candidates to participate in local community events without fear of legal repercussions.