Independent lawmaker and gangster Lo Fu-chu (
Lo's unexpected trip has led to speculation that he may be trying to avoid criminal prosecution.
But staff from the lawmaker's office yesterday said Lo traveled to Hong Kong for a private business meeting and would return to Taiwan next Monday.
On Oct. 8, Taipei prosecutors indicted Lo for assaulting People First Party lawmaker Diane Lee (
Prosecutors had also asked that the lawmaker be designated as a "gangster" under the Anti-Hoodlum Law -- a measure that allows investigators additional leeway to go after gangsters -- and would enable them to detain Lo at anytime.
An eight-member committee at the police headquarters decided unanimously yesterday to put the lawmaker on the list.
"Lo will be more than welcome to appeal if he is not happy with the decision of the committee," said Wang Cho-chun (
By law, the committee's final ruling could not be made public, but a source told the Taipei Times that the group had decided to put Lo on the list of gangsters.
An initial review of Lo's case was conducted on Monday. A group at the Second Chungcheng Police Precinct recommended that Lo be placed on the nation's list of hoodlums. Prosecutors on Oct. 8 made 14 separate charges against Lo and police investigators found 11 of them to be credible.
According to the Anti-Hoodlum Law, the lawmaker could be listed as a "minor" gangster. That means Lo could be jailed immediately without investigation if he breaks the law again. A "major" hoodlum designation would mean that the lawmaker is facing a trial.
Lo owns a securities house and admits to being the "spiritual leader" and one of three founders of the Tiendaomeng, a syndicate of Taiwanese gangs. But he denies that his organization is involved in criminal activities.
Lo yesterday took Cathay Pacific Airways flight CX-461, which departed at 11:20am from CKS Airport to Hong Kong.
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