Taiwan's first candidate for legislator, Ma Zhiwei, who is suspected of receiving funds from China in USDT, has been detained.

The latest shocking news in Taiwan's political scene involves independent legislative candidate Ma Zhiwei, who has been detained on suspicion of receiving funds from mainland China to participate in the election. This incident not only highlights the potential influence of external funds on local elections but also marks a significant turning point since the implementation of the Anti-Infiltration Act.

Suspected Receipt of Foreign Funds: Suspicions Surrounding Ma Chih-wei

A non-partisan legislative candidate in a district in Taoyuan, Ma Chih-wei, has recently found herself at the center of a storm, accused of accepting financial support from mainland China for her campaign. It is reported that she not only received millions of New Taiwan Dollars in funding but is also suspected of relaying information on Taiwan's intelligence personnel and election details back to China. Following an in-depth investigation by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, prosecutors believe Ma Chih-wei's actions are serious and have therefore applied to the court for her detention and restriction of communication.

First Legislative Candidate Under Anti-Infiltration Law

This case marks the first instance since the implementation of the Anti-Infiltration Law in Taiwan where a legislative candidate has been caught accepting external funding to participate in an election. Ma Chih-wei previously served as the spokesperson for the Taoyuan City branch of the People's Party and left her position due to her support for certain political figures. Despite running as an independent candidate this time, she remains affiliated with the People's Party. This incident undoubtedly has had an impact on the People's Party.

Case Details and Investigation Progress: Accepting USDT Bribes

According to investigations, during a visit to mainland China in April last year, Ma Chih-wei made contact with local officials responsible for Taiwan affairs and struck a deal: providing political information on Taiwan and participating in elections in exchange for financial support. Subsequently, she made multiple trips to China and received several transactions of USDT, commonly known as Tether, and an equivalent amount of virtual currency, totaling over NT$1 million in October and December.

During the election period, she is also suspected of providing information on Taiwan's intelligence personnel and following instructions for election activities. After a thorough investigation, prosecutors believe that Ma Chih-wei is significantly involved in potential violations of the Anti-Infiltration Law, with risks of tampering with evidence, obstructing justice, and fleeing, hence the application for her detention and restriction of communication.

Are Cryptocurrencies Becoming Tools for Political Bribery?

This case not only serves as a significant test for Taiwan's Anti-Infiltration Law but also poses a serious challenge to the integrity of Taiwan's electoral system. As the investigation progresses, more details are expected to surface, which will have profound implications on Taiwan's political landscape.

Last year, prosecutors from the Taiwan Ministry of Justice reported that China Tobacco, with the example of "Zhonghua Cigarettes," demonstrated how cryptocurrencies, with their difficulty to trace and ease of mobility, could be used for bribery and even simulated scenarios of using cryptocurrencies and NFTs for election bribery. Today, it is confirmed that such cases are indeed occurring.

Cryptocurrency Bribery Cases! Taiwan Ministry of Justice Prosecutors Use "Zhonghua Cigarettes" as an Analogy for Concealment, Smart Contract Election Bribery Likely to Occur in 2024