According to information from the Ministry of Justice, from 2000 until the end of May this year, rewards for reporting and bribes totaled over 1.254 billion yuan. As part of the nine-in-one election bonus last year, it is believed that approximately 50 million yuan were issued, with ongoing reviews and issuance.
According to the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, 1,335 cases of bribery in the nine-in-one elections last year had been prosecuted as of June this year.
Additionally, prosecutorial offices across the country have launched lawsuits to stop vote-buying during illegitimate elections. This featured 192 incidents involving 193 people, including Zhong Dongjin, the justice of the peace for Miaoli County, and Taipei Metropolis Councillor Lin Xinger. There was a 4 percent increase from the nine-in-one election prior to this one. The court had ruled that three of the instances were invalid. Prosecutors across the country seized about 15 million yuan, breaking previous records.
Bitcoins are known to be a form of bribery.
The Ministry of Justice stated that bribery tactics are changing and are no longer just limited to financial exchanges. Developing third-party payment systems like Line Pay, Pi Pockets, Jiekou Cost, and Oufubao, as well as virtual currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, coupled with game items and virtual currencies, might be used as tools for bribery in elections. In preparation for the impending general election in 2024, the police and prosecutors are aggressively conducting preventive action.
See also: Crypto Vs. SEC: Authorized Experts Allege SEC May Be Violating Law Regarding Cryptocurrency Regulation
Cryptocurrencies are widely recognized as a potential tool for bribery in a variety of situations, including elections. Due to the characteristics of cryptocurrencies, such as their decentralized and pseudonymous nature, concerns have been raised regarding how they might be used for bribery attempts and other illegal activities.
Because cryptocurrencies are digital, their quick, relatively anonymous transactions make it possible for people to utilize them to influence elections secretly. To stop the misuse of cryptocurrencies for bribery purposes, authorities and regulatory bodies are increasingly keeping an eye on and addressing this situation.
