A local Taiwanese official facing serious corruption charges has been told he still cannot leave the country, a setback for him and a win for prosecutors.

• The village chief of Weixin in Kaohsiung's Yong'an district and a former temple committee head are accused of using their local clout to extort money from factories.
• They allegedly demanded payments of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of Taiwan dollars, threatening protests or surprise safety inspections if firms refused.
• Both were released on bail in January but barred from leaving Taiwan by land, sea, or air.
• The chief asked the court to lift the ban, arguing his job requires overseas trips and exchanges.
• The court refused, saying the pair have the money and standing to flee, face charges carrying at least ten years, and still deny wrongdoing.

Outlook: The travel ban runs another eight months from late September while the case moves through trial.