TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chinese spouse Xu Chunying (徐春鶯) was detained on Friday on suspicion of violating banking laws and the Anti-Infiltration Act and committing fraud.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office accused Xu of operating an illegal remittance service between the Taiwan dollar and Chinese yuan, obtaining bank loans through forged documents, and supporting Taiwan People’s Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and TPP Taipei mayoral candidate Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊) under the direction or financial backing of a Chinese infiltration source — or acting as the infiltration source herself, per Liberty Times.

Prosecutors also said Xu is linked to illegal activities involving One Biotechnology Company, where she is listed as a supervisor, per Mirror Media. The company’s owner, Hou Chun-chien (侯君鍵), was previously convicted of violating the Securities and Exchange Act and sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison, per ETtoday.

The TPP responded to Xu’s detention by urging prosecutors to follow proper legal procedures, including maintaining the required secrecy of investigations, per ETtoday. Xu chairs the TPP’s Committee on New Immigrants and was once considered for the party’s at-large legislative candidate list.

Huang expressed shock at Xu’s detention, noting her long service to Taipei’s new immigrant community, per Liberty Times. She said allegations that Xu acted under direction or funding from Chinese sources are serious and must be backed by solid evidence.

TPP Spokesperson Chen Chih-han (陳智菡) questioned whether the prosecution is politically motivated, calling it “political persecution in the name of national security,” per UP Media. She also warned that the case could make Taiwan feel unsafe for immigrants from China. Chen further alleged that authorities may be targeting Ko through Xu.

Formosa Chair Wu Tzu-chia (吳子嘉) rejected Chen’s characterization of the case as political persecution but agreed there is a possibility the government is attempting to pressure Ko through Xu, per NOWNews. Wu said the timing of the case coincides with Ko’s impending return to the political stage, though he expressed confusion because the DPP needs TPP support to pass the special defense budget.

DPP Legislator Lin Chu-yin (林楚茵) criticized TPP Chair Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) for remaining silent on the allegations, saying it was inconsistent with his frequent public criticism of fraud cases, per NOWNews. Lin also noted that Xu could have become a legislator had she not declined the TPP’s offer, alleging that her election would have provided significant assistance to China’s infiltration efforts.