Wu Chun-li

In 2009, Judge Lin Teh-sheng (林德盛), one of the judges assigned to Wu Chun-li's ongoing corruption case, was photographed visiting Wu's home “while the case was being reviewed at the High Court.” According to a Taipei Times report, “Investigators suspected that Lin may have accepted bribes from Wu in exchange for influencing the outcome of the judicial review in Wu’s favor.” Wu had been placed under surveillance in May “after being suspected of having relations with various individuals involved with the case.”

Kuang Li-chen, having relinquished the position of Magistrate in 2009 in favour of Justin Huang, was a surprise nomination as an independent for the 2018 Magistrate election. Wu Chun-li was reportedly “furious” when he learned of the move. As a KMT member and head of an association backing KMT Magistrate candidate Rao Ching-ling, he joined younger sister, Wu Hsiu-hua (吳秀華), head of the KMT's Taitung branch, and outgoing Magistrate Justin Huang condemning her candidacy, which Huang called, “a DPP... divide and conquer tactic.” Wu Chun-li said he would “get to the bottom of the incident”.

Subsequently, a new Magistrate election was called for April 1, 2006. Kuang Li-chen joined the KMT and became the KMT nomination. She achieved a landslide victory receiving 42,578 votes, more than double the 19,110 votes of her closest rival, former Taitung Deputy Magistrate Liu Chao-hao (劉櫂豪). Then-KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was criticised “for campaigning for the ex-wife of a man who has been convicted of corruption and vote-buying.”

In 2005 Wu again ran for Taitung County Magistrate, this time as an independent. The incumbent, Hsu Ching-yuan, surprisingly quit the race weeks before the election date, whereupon he faced Liu Chao-hao, previously affiliated with the DPP, but also running as an independent. Following a tip-off during the campaign, Wu was charged with ‘vote-buying’. He was released on NT$1 million (US$29,800) bail. “Wu told local reporters that he was innocent and he would continue his campaign after his release.”

In 2001 Wu Chun-li ran as the KMT candidate for County Magistrate but lost to Hsu Ching-yuan. In 2002 Wu was sentenced to 16 years jail in relation to the 1999 corruption charge. This was reduced to 7 years and eight months following a High Court review in Hualien. Wu maintained his innocence and appealed the decision.

Wu Chun-li entered politics in 1998 as a KMT representative and became Taitung Council Speaker the following year. He was known for his opposition to the Taitung incinerator and was instrumental in having the budget for the incinerator frozen. In 1999 he was charged with corruption in relation to a budget skimming scheme.