A Taiwanese lawmaker has been released on bail in a corruption case that ties political favors to a shipping family's business, a fresh blow to the KMT's image.

• KMT legislator Chen Hsueh-sheng was released on NT$2 million bail over claims he pocketed public money for assistants who were really friends and relatives.
• Prosecutors also say a shipping group linked to businessman Yang Su-yuan gave Chen a free special aide — a retired navy rear admiral — worth well over a million in salary.
• In return, Chen is suspected of leaning on state oil company CPC to let the shipping firm cancel a contract early after one of its tankers broke down, saving it heavy costs.
• Yang, a friend of Chen's for 30 years and father of a former Kinmen county chief, was summoned for questioning and sent to Taipei prosecutors for further rounds.

Outlook: Investigators are pulling records from the family's shipping and shipping-agency companies to see how many other favors flowed through Chen, so more charges are likely.