A key defendant in a Taiwanese corruption case has cut off his electronic monitor and fled, a setback for prosecutors and an embarrassment for the court that let him out.

• Chang Chun-chieh, former office director for independent lawmaker Kao Chin Su-mei, vanished after breaking and dumping his ankle-style wrist monitor.
• Police only noticed because the device sent a low-battery alert; the court has now issued an arrest warrant and alerted immigration.
• He and Kao Chin were among 24 people charged in June with pocketing public money through fake legislative assistant jobs, including her own siblings.
• The case also covers the illegal import of tens of thousands of unapproved Chinese COVID test kits during the 2022 shortage.
• Prosecutors want at least 16 years for Chang, who was freed on heavy bail because he is over 70 and has lung cancer.

Outlook: With borders alerted and his trial already under way, the manhunt will likely dominate the case and could harden the court's stance toward Kao Chin.