Prosecutors Also Summon 22 People Including Huang Kai; Detained as 'Gatekeeper' for Solar Energy Companies; Luxury Mansion Revealed to Be Like a Boutique Store

The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office is investigating Yunlin County Council Speaker Huang Kai for allegedly accepting bribes to protect green energy companies. Yesterday (4th), they orchestrated a large-scale operation involving over a hundred investigators from the New Taipei City Investigation Division of the Investigation Bureau. They simultaneously searched 40 locations, including the Yunlin County Council, and summoned 22 people—including Huang Kai—to travel north for questioning. After overnight interrogations, prosecutors applied for Huang Kai's detention and incommunicado custody. This afternoon, the New Taipei District Court held a hearing and determined that Huang Kai is strongly suspected of significant crimes and poses a risk of collusion and evidence tampering. The court ruled to detain him incommunicado. The bribes Huang Kai is suspected of receiving—including 2.32 million NTD in cash, luxury cars, high-end watches, and more than ten designer bags—were also revealed for the first time today.

Investigators seized illegal assets from Huang Kai's residence and other locations, including one BMW X6 and one Lexus RX 200 luxury SUV. They also confiscated five luxury watches—including Rolexes—and one Cartier ring, as well as more than ten designer bags from brands like LV, Gucci, Hermès, Chanel, and Dior. Each bag is valued from tens of thousands to over 400,000 NTD.

According to reports, the case originated from an energy company based in Taipei City. In 2020, through cooperating partners like a man surnamed Lian, they applied to establish a solar photovoltaic power plant in Taixi Township, Yunlin County. Lian and others sought assistance from Huang Kai, who was then a councilor and had not yet been elected as council speaker.

Huang Kai not only assisted the company in obtaining the necessary local consent letters before setting up the plant but also is suspected of using his position as a county councilor to pressure Yunlin County government officials to expedite the issuance of power industry licenses. The company promised to provide Huang Kai with tens of millions of NTD in return. Huang Kai allegedly set up shell companies through his sisters and others to receive payments and purchase luxury cars, thereby disguising the illicit financial transactions.

Investigators also have evidence that Li Junxing, the Director of the Construction Department of the Yunlin County Government, is suspected of leaking internal documents related to the county government's review of the company's power plant application to Huang Kai.

Prosecutor Zhou Yijun of the Special Task Force on Organized Crime at the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office directed over a hundred personnel from the New Taipei City Investigation Division yesterday. Chief Prosecutor Chen Xuhua and Prosecutor Chen Bowen led teams that set out early in the morning to Yunlin, Tainan, Hsinchu, New Taipei, and Taipei. They searched 40 locations, including the Yunlin County Council and the Yunlin County Government.

Prosecutors also summoned 22 individuals, including Huang Kai; businessmen like Lian; and three Yunlin County government officials, including a man surnamed Li. They took the high-speed rail north to clarify the case. After overnight interrogations, prosecutors believe that Huang Kai is suspected of accepting bribes not related to his official duties under the "Anti-Corruption Act" and violating the "Money Laundering Control Act." Due to concerns about the risk of flight and evidence destruction, they applied to the New Taipei District Court this morning (5th) for his detention and incommunicado custody.

After a hearing at around 3 p.m. today, the judge determined that Huang Kai is suspected of serious crimes punishable by a minimum of five years in prison, with substantial evidence of guilt, and poses a risk of evidence tampering and witness collusion. The court ruled to detain him incommunicado.

Among the other 21 individuals, 11 have been listed as defendants. Director Li is suspected of leaking secrets; after interrogation, prosecutors released him on bail of 200,000 NTD. Huang Kai's sister, a subordinate surnamed Wang, and a female assistant surnamed Zhou are suspected of money laundering; they were each released on bail ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 NTD after questioning. Lian is suspected of bribery not related to official duties; after interrogation, he was placed under residential restrictions. The remaining six defendants and witnesses were released after questioning.

The Supreme Prosecutors Office recently collaborated with the Investigation Bureau and the Agency Against Corruption to plan the "Jingping Project," targeting corruption cases in the green energy sector. They integrated investigative resources to simultaneously crack down on corrupt public officials who use their positions to solicit bribes from green energy companies or unscrupulous legislators who pressure for profit during budget reviews. This case investigated by the New Taipei prosecutors is part of the second wave of actions under this project.

Huang Kai is currently unaffiliated with any political party and hails from Yunlin County's third electoral district (Huwei, Tuku, Baozhong, Yuanchang). He is a four-term county councilor in the Yunlin County Council. In October last year (2023), former Kuomintang council speaker Shen Zonglong resigned due to involvement in accepting bribes from green energy companies. Huang Kai was then elected as council speaker in a by-election by all council members.

Source: ETtoday News