The local elections for public officials will be held on November 28 this year. To ensure a fair, just, and clean electoral environment, the Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office has proactively launched an anti-bribery, anti-interference, and election monitoring awareness campaign. Chief Prosecutor Ko Yi-Fen recently gave an interview to remind the public to stay vigilant and maintain fair elections.
As the election date approaches, methods of bribery and interference are becoming increasingly diverse. Chief Prosecutor Ko pointed out that in recent years, foreign interference in elections has become a key focus of monitoring. Bribery can take many forms beyond cash, including gifts, travel invitations, improper compensation for services, and mobile payments. Interference may involve spreading false information through social media, messaging apps, and video platforms, and even using AI technology to create fake videos and audio clips. Chief Prosecutor Ko urged the public to remain rational regarding online information, verify facts from multiple sources, and avoid believing or sharing unverified content.
In response to the notion that "money can be accepted, but votes are not guaranteed," Chief Prosecutor Ko emphasized that this is a misguided belief. Accepting money or benefits with the knowledge that they are intended to influence votes may involve the crime of vote-buying, and the public should not test the law.
To encourage public participation in combating bribery and interference, the Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office has established a reporting hotline at 0800-024-099 and offers substantial rewards for whistleblowers. Rewards for reporting bribery can reach up to NT$10 million, NT$5 million for reporting online gambling, and NT$20 million for reporting foreign interference. Over the past few years, the office has disbursed nearly NT$30 million in rewards, highlighting the importance of public reports in monitoring illegal election activities. Additionally, the office has robust confidentiality and protection mechanisms for whistleblowers, allowing citizens to provide information without fear of exposure or repercussions.
Chief Prosecutor Ko concluded by calling for the collective participation of the public in anti-bribery and anti-interference efforts. If suspicious bribery or interference activities are discovered, please report them courageously to maintain a fair and clean election environment and protect the core values of democracy and the rule of law.