A local borough chief in New Taipei's Sanchong district is facing criminal complaints from neighbors and residents who say he borrowed millions and vanished, in a case that has left several ordinary savers out of pocket.

• Lin Chun-tao, head of Guanghua borough, is accused of borrowing more than NT$800,000 from three block captains he himself appointed, plus NT$800,000 from another woman.
• He allegedly used the same story each time — a sick ex-wife, money troubles, borrowing new to repay old — then went silent once the cash came in.
• He also started a private savings pool, collected the money, then let it collapse, wiping out one member's contributions.
• Victims say the debts run into the millions and that even a low-income resident and small street vendors were tapped for cash.
• He denies the accusations, saying he borrowed from only one person and paid it back, and would not respond directly to the creditors' claims.

Outlook: Police and prosecutors in Sanchong are now investigating fraud, intimidation, and election-law charges, and the accusers hope publicity will bring more victims forward.