TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Prosecutors said Wednesday they would not pursue allegations of an illegal takeover of a shopping mall brought by clothing retailer NET Fashion Development Co. against Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑).

In February last year, city police conducted a nighttime raid on E-Square Mall to expel NET, changing the locks and seizing merchandise belonging to the clothing chain. The company accused the Kuomintang mayor of larceny and damage to property.

However, Keelung District Prosecutors Office said Wednesday it would not file charges against the city and its mayor, as the handover had been described in an operate-and-transfer deal signed by both parties. An attorney for NET disputed the decision, adding he would file an appeal, the Liberty Times reported.

NET said the city was guilty of illegally claiming operating rights over the mall. Keelung wanted to hand over the property to the Breeze Group for renovation.

The widely publicized dispute over control of the mall led to criticism of Hsieh’s competence as mayor of the harbor city. Campaigners collected signatures for a recall in October, which Hsieh survived.

The clothing retailer plans to appeal in the mall dispute.