Senior opposition figure in Taiwanese capital detained over alleged election fraud

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - Taiwan on Friday ordered the detention of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party Taipei branch head on charges of alleged election forgery.

Taipei District Court ordered the detention of Huang Lu Chin-ju for two months incommunicado, citing significant evidence of criminal acts and the possibility of interfering with evidence, broadcaster TVBS reported.

Prosecutors have been investigating alleged election fraud, specifically the falsification of signatures in a recall campaign targeting members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the broadcaster added.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court overturned Huang's release without bail, scheduled a second detention hearing, and ruled that there was sufficient evidence to suggest she was involved in the election forgery.

In answer to the detention, KMT Chairman Eric Chu called the legal proceedings a "democratic prison" while vowing to try all appeal options in front of the courthouse.

Chu claimed there was judicial interference and announced a scheduled protest on Saturday in front of the presidential office.

Prosecutors earlier detained two KMT staffers for alleged election forgery by falsifying signatures in a recall campaign targeting politicians from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).