Taipei: Prosecutors in Taichung have requested court approval to detain two opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party staffers suspected of falsifying signatures on petitions aimed at recalling two lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

According to Focus Taiwan, the individuals, Chen Chien-feng and Wu Kang-lung from the KMT’s Taichung chapter, allegedly committed multiple offenses to push for recall votes against DPP Legislators Tsai Chi-chang and Ho Hsin-chun. The accused have been charged under the Personal Data Protection Act and the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, among other violations. Prosecutors argue that detention is necessary to prevent collusion and destruction of evidence.

A total of 13 individuals were questioned by prosecutors on Friday regarding alleged signature falsification in the recall campaigns against Tsai and Ho in Taichung. In addition to Chen and Wu, six were released on bail ranging from NT$100,000 (US$3,244) to NT$200,000, under conditions restricting them from leaving the country or boarding ships. The remaining five were allowed to return home after questioning.

Meanwhile, six individuals involved in the recall campaign against KMT Legislators Yen Kuan-heng, Liao Wei-hsiang, and Huang Chien-hao were also questioned but were allowed to return home afterward.

The prosecutors began their investigation following a report from the Central Election Commission, which cited allegations of forgery, including signatures of deceased individuals on the petitions. Raids conducted by prosecutors on Friday targeted eight locations in Taichung and Changhua County, including offices associated with political parties and residences and district offices of those questioned.

According to the Central Election Commission’s data, the recall campaigns involved signatures from 154 deceased individuals, with 83 linked to the case against Tsai, 66 against Ho, three against Liao, and one each against Yen and Huang.