《TAIPEI TIMES》 Election interference activities revealed
BALLOT INTEGRITY: Groups engaging in activities such as unlicensed money lending and election betting often serve Beijing’s vote disruption efforts
健康 國際 地方 蒐奇 影音 財經 娛樂 汽車 時尚 體育 3 C 評論 藝文 玩咖 食譜 地產 專區 TAIPEI TIMES 求職
Huang Wen-yang, head of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Division, speaks at a press conference in New Taipei City yesterday, saying authorities had uncovered 54 cases involving more than NT$62.8 billion in illicit funds. Photo: CNA
BALLOT INTEGRITY: Groups engaging in activities such as unlicensed money lending and election betting often serve Beijing’s vote disruption efforts, authorities said
By Lu Yun-feng, Jonathan Chin and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writers and CNA
The authorities have launched 54 probes into suspected foreign election interference and other electoral fraud-related crimes to protect the integrity of the Nov. 28 local elections, the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau said yesterday.
Special agents launched investigations into illegal foreign campaign contributions, money laundering and election betting ahead of the “nine-in-one” elections, the bureau said.
The investigations resulted in 25 pretrial detentions, 70 suspects placed on bail, and the confiscation of NT$62.8 billion （US$2 billion） linked to suspected illegal cash flows used in breaking election laws, it said.
The bureau interviewed 559 people as potential suspects or witnesses, it added.
The investigations were part of the law enforcement effort to prevent foreign election interference, it said, adding that it is focusing on unlicensed money lending, election betting, and money launderers operating under shell corporations and virtual buyer groups.
Organizations and groups engaging in such activities often serve as conduits for funds used in election interference by Beijing, it said.
Another goal of the operation is to identify those who benefited from the Chinese government’s illegal campaign contributions, it said.
The bureau said it assigned 25 field offices to the effort, seizing NT$11.19 billion from unregistered moneylenders, NT$4.24 billion from alleged launderers and N$5.06 billion from alleged tax evaders.
The seizures included NT$153 million in cash, 521 bank accounts holding a total of NT$501 million, Tether cryptocurrency valued at US$2,184, 12 luxury cars valued at NT$23 million, luxury fashion accessories valued at NT$9.1 million, watches valued at NT$10 million and 35 properties valued at NT$101 million, the bureau said.
The properties and assets were deemed proceeds from suspected criminal activities, it said.
The bureau warned political candidates and members of the public against receiving or facilitating the transfer of suspicious funds from China or other countries.
Protecting elections’ integrity is a national security matter, and money laundering prevention is necessary to ensure the orderly functioning of the financial market, it added.
Separately yesterday, the High Prosecutors’ Office said that prosecutors uncovered 212 cases of illicit financial transactions intended to influence the elections, seizing more than NT$900 million in suspected criminal proceeds.
The office launched a crackdown on illicit financial flows nationwide from Aug. 17 to Friday last week to prevent illicit funds from influencing the elections, prosecutors said in a news release.
The operation uncovered 212 cases involving illicit financial flows and 588 people suspected of breaching the Banking Act （銀行法）, the Money Laundering Control Act （洗錢防制法） and gambling provisions of the Criminal Code, they said.
Prosecutors detained 75 people, while 229 were released on bail, and the remainder were subject to other measures, including residence restrictions, it added.
Authorities seized about NT$909 million in suspected criminal proceeds in cash and bank accounts, as well as more than 390,000 Tether tokens, 20 vehicles and 850 electronic devices, such as mobile phones, tablets and computers, the office said.
They also seized 36 properties and more than 100 luxury items, including designer bags, watches and gold jewelry, it added.
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