Judicial authorities have over the past few days carried out searches and questioned suspects over alleged election irregularities in Keelung and Hsinchu City, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung and Yunlin counties.

Independent Hsinchu City mayoral candidate Huang Yuan-fu (黃源甫) was on Saturday released on NT$100,000 (US$3,125) bail after police searched his office following a tip-off that he was allegedly giving out nasal cleaning devices as gifts to voters, estimated at NT$200 in value.

In Keelung, prosecutors were investigating a complaint that a borough warden candidate surnamed Lin (林) had been allegedly handing out NT$1,000 to people in exchange for their votes.

From left, Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Prosecutor-General Hsing Tai-chao, Deputy Minister of the Interior Chen Tsung-yen, Minister of Justice Tsai Ching-hsiang, Central Election Committee Chairman Lee Chin-yung and Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau Director-General Wang Chun-li gesture at an event in Taipei on Oct. 5 calling for corruption-free elections.

Photo: CNA

In Yunlin County, a man surnamed Hsu (許), who is running for a township council seat, was on Friday questioned along with his two associates for allegedly handing out health supplement products to residents in exchange for their votes.

Searches were also conducted in Chiayi County’s Dongshi Township (東石) on allegations that a county councilor candidate was handing out NT$1,000 to residents for their votes.

Vote-buying allegations have also...