Prosecutors drop defamation probe against former lawmakerBy Yang Hsin-hui and Kayleigh Madjar / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office today decided not to pursue defamation charges against former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Kao Chia-yu (高嘉瑜) for accusing another lawmaker of claiming residency in the US to avoid paying property taxes. Kao said she consulted a US accountant, who said that applying for the exemption requires a US social security number, thereby claiming US residency and potentially green card status. Former Democratic Progressive Party legislator Kao Chia-yu holds up public residency information about Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lee Yen-hsiu on Feb. 6 last year. The failure to disclose her ownership of the properties stemmed from unfamiliarity with election laws, not willful deceit, she added. Kao said that politicians have an obligation to declare their assets honestly and accept scrutiny, adding that Lee eventually admitted to misreporting her assets.

Source: Taipei Times February 23, 2026 11:09 UTC