Kao Hung-an Questioned in Payroll Case 疑涉詐領助理費 高虹安移送北檢複訊

Hsinchu City Mayor-elect Kao Hung-an, along with her office manager and assistants were subpoenaed for questioning related to corruption and payroll fraud accusations on Dec. 15, with her office and seven other locations searched. Kao was released on NT$600,000 bail.

“Corrupt criminal!”Hsinchu City Mayor-elect Kao Hung-an ignores the mob as she leaves the Taipei District Prosecutors Office on the morning of the 16th. Kao is being investigated for corruption and payroll fraud and allegedly asking her assistant to turn over overtime payments to her as provident funds for her personal use. 

Chiu Chen-yuan, Legislator (TPP): “The TPP respects the independence of the judicial process and the authority of the judiciary. We also have to respect the principle of closed investigations and we look forward to the truth being uncovered.”

Investigators searched eight locations in Taipei and Hsinchu, including Kao's office at the Legislative Yuan and four private residences. Kao's office manager, Chen Huan-yu, was taken in for questioning on the 15th. Kao, her former assistant Lee Chung-ting, and former public relations manager Wang Yu-wen were questioned as defendants. Kao's assistant, Huang Ling-hui, was questioned as a witness. 

Reporter asked Wang Yu-wen: “Did you turn over provident funds? Were you forced to turn over provident funds?”

At 2 a.m., Chen and Wang were released on NT$100,000 bail. Kao was released on NT$600,000 bail at 5:10 a.m. and Lee was released without bail.

新竹市長當選高虹安，結束約談後，16日清晨移送北檢複訊，一度被圍觀民眾大喊「貪污犯」，高虹安不發一語，沒有回應。高虹安選前捲入詐領助理費風波，被爆出要求助理們上繳加班費當作公積金，用於私人支出。調查局北機站報請台北地檢署，分他字案指揮偵辦，高虹安等人涉嫌《貪污治罪條例》利用職務詐取財物罪、《刑法》偽造文書等罪。

民眾黨立委邱臣遠表示：「本黨團都一切尊重司法調查的整個獨立性，跟整個檢調的一個職權。我想其實這個，我們也要秉持這個偵查不公開的原則，我們就靜待司法，來去還原最後的事實。」

檢調兵分多路，展開偵查行動，搜索地點包括台北、新竹、國會辦公室，還有4人住居所等8處。高虹安國會辦公室主任陳奐宇，15日上午在立法院被檢調帶走；另外前助理李忠庭、前公關組長王郁文，以及高虹安本人，都是以被告身份進行偵訊；而高虹安助理黃鈴惠，也依證人身分到案說明。凌晨連同高虹安在內，4名被告、1位證人，都被移送到台北地檢署複訊。

記者問王郁文：「有沒有上繳公積金？你是被迫上繳公積金的嗎？」

「台大13妹」之一，王郁文移送北檢時，對於記者的詢問不發一語。今凌晨2時許，陳奐宇、王郁文各被諭令10萬元交保；而高虹安也在今天清晨5時10分，被諭令60萬元交保；李忠庭獲請回。