A central figure in the corruption case against Taiwanese independent lawmaker Kao Chin Su-mei has cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and disappeared, which is bad news for her legal position.

• Chang Chun-chieh, the aide widely seen as Kao Chin's money manager, broke his ankle monitor late at night and vanished.
• His escape makes the case murkier and raises the risk that defendants coordinate their stories.
• Courts and prosecutors are now likely to reassess flight and collusion risk across the whole case.
• Kao Chin herself could face a higher bail amount, regular check-ins, travel limits, electronic monitoring, or even detention.
• Detaining a sitting lawmaker during a legislative session requires the Legislative Yuan's permission, which is a high bar.

Outlook: Prosecutors are expected to push for stricter measures against Kao Chin while investigators trace whether Chang used his long-standing Beijing connections to slip out of reach.