With investigators carrying out another search of the residence and office of a high-ranking Taipei city government official Tuesday, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin said he respects the judicial process and that he hopes the truth can be revealed as soon as possible. Agents from the Investigation Bureau under the Ministry of Justice, led by prosecutors from the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, conducted searches of 11 sites simultaneously earlier that day, including the city government's New Construction Office (NCO) , as well as the residence and office of its secretary-general, Yang Hsi-an. As Yang is considered the chief of staff of the city government, a local newspaper reported that the latest search seemed to suggest that the investigation might be getting closer to Hau himself. Asked by reporters about the search while attending a ceremony in Taipei, Hau said that as far he understood, the searches were just aimed at collecting data. 'We respect the justice system, and hope the prosecutors will demonstrate fair judgment and clarify the truth as quickly as possible,' he said. Investigators had already searched the residences and offices of five senior city government officials Sept. 7 looking for evidence of allegations that they allowed contractors to fleece the city government. The probe was initiated at Hau's request after several city councilors of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) claimed the city government turned a blind eye to construction companies that inflated the price for improving the city's Xinsheng elevated highway. Hau, who is facing a serious challenge from a DPP candidate in his bid for a second term in the year-end mayoral election, referred the officials in charge of the project to prosecutors after news of the allegations took a heavy toll on his approval rating. 