Lee Chao-ching

Lee graduated from Tunghai University with a degree in industrial engineering and earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology and a master's degree in chemical engineering from Cheng Shiu University.

Lee assumed the position of Magistrate of Nantou County after winning the 2005 election on 3 December 2005 under the Kuomintang and took office on 20 December 2005. He then again secured his second term of magistrate after winning the 2009 election on 5 December 2009 and assumed office on 20 December 2009.

Lee was detained on 30 November 2012 due to corruption charges stemming from his handling of the post-Typhoon Morakot reconstruction project budget. US$10,320 was found in his office, which was alleged to be part of the bribes he had received. The Ministry of Interior immediately relieved Lee from his duties. He was replaced as Nantou Magistrate by his deputy, Chen Chih-ching. Lee was also suspended from the Kuomintang.^[1][3]

In early April 2013, Lee was released in bail. After the release, he filed the application to be reinstated as the Magistrate of Nantou County. However, the MOI, backed by the premier, rejected Lee's application.^[4][5] In August 2015, Lee was handed a prison sentence of thirty years by the Nantou District Court.^[6][7] Upon appeal to the Taiwan High Court, Lee's sentence was reduced to 22 years imprisonment.^[8] Lee's appeal for a further reduction in his sentence was rejected by the Supreme Court in January 2025.^[9]