A temporary garbage-collection worker in Taichung was charged with corruption for selling recyclable items he collected on his route, though prosecutors are asking the court to go easy on him.

• The worker, hired by Taichung's environmental bureau, set aside metal scrap, taps, a laptop, and batteries from collection runs and sold them for personal cash.
• The total haul came to under NT$10,000, but selling public recycling counts as corruption under Taiwan's anti-graft law.
• He turned himself in to the anti-corruption agency, handed back all the money, and was charged in July.
• Prosecutors asked for a reduced or waived sentence, citing the small sums, his confession, and money pressure from a newborn child.

Outlook: The court will decide whether to spare him punishment, and the case highlights how strictly Taiwan treats even petty misuse of public property by government staff.