Hsinchu baseball stadium case ends with no charges for former mayor Lin Chih-chien

Aug 28, 2026

Prosecutors have cleared Hsinchu's former mayor and city staff over the baseball stadium contract, a win for Lin Chih-chien and an embarrassment for the politicians who pushed the "hidden treasure" corruption claim.

  • Hsinchu prosecutors closed the case with no indictments for Lin Chih-chien or city employees.
  • The alleged NT$1.2 billion "hidden treasure" was not real — the stadium rebuild cost NT$820 million, with the rest going to an underground parking garage.
  • Video records showed no illegal dumping or selling of waste, and the soil layer was actually thicker than the design called for, costing the contractor extra.
  • Councillor Yang Ling-yi says Kao Hung-an and Ko Wen-je owe Lin and city staff an apology after four years of accusations.
  • The stadium has sat closed for over four years, with the operating company's contract cancelled and no pro baseball being played there.

Outlook: Expect the fight to shift from criminal court to contract disputes and civil claims, with political blame over the shuttered stadium continuing.

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