Five people have been indicted in Taiwan over an alleged plan to injure a comedian whose performances included jokes about Chinese President Xi Jinping.

New Taipei prosecutors say Huang Yi-hao was deliberately hit by a vehicle in September after a Chinese national, identified only as “K”, arranged payment for an attack.

Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported allegations that the operation included monitoring Huang’s movements and placing a GPS tracker on his scooter.

Huang suffered a pelvic contusion. Prosecutors said part of the promised payment was withheld because his injuries were less serious than intended.

The charges include attempted serious injury and offences involving personal information. The allegations have not been established by a conviction.

The case follows a separate incident in May when paint and human waste were thrown at a Taipei comedy venue where Huang was due to appear.

Prosecutors have described the alleged attacks as efforts to suppress political dissent across borders. CNA reported that the background of “K” remained under investigation.

Responding to allegations surrounding the earlier venue attack, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said it did not know the details and rejected accusations of cross-border repression.