Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (
"Lien decided to file the charges because [Chou's] remark exceeded debate on political ideology and was one that maliciously defamed Lien's personal reputation," Tsai said.
Lien also plans to bring to court three guests on Chou's show as well as three officials at Eastern TV: manager Chang Shu-shen (張樹森), chief administrator Chao Yi (趙怡) and news department manager Ma Yung-jui (馬詠睿).
Chou hosts a daily political talk show on Eastern TV. On Saturday night, Chou, along with three guests, called into question a recent visit by Lien to Lugano, Switzerland.
Noting that Lien entered Lugano by car rather than by air, which would have required security checks, Chou and her guests suggested that Lien might have been engaged in money laundering.
The three commentators were journalists Huang Kuan-chin (黃光芹), Tsai Yu-chen (蔡玉貞) and Chen Chung-hsiung (陳中雄).
"It is absurd. It violates journalistic professionalism to infer that Lien was involved in money laundering simply because he traveled to the area by car rather than by air," Tsai said.
Lien's decision to take legal action was in part also a wish to stop an unhealthy trend in journalism, Tsai added.
"Journalists should adhere to professionalism and provide evidence to back up any accusations," Tsai said. "The accusation made on the show against the Lien family was farfetched and lacked professionalism."
Chou has been critical of the KMT, both before and since the March 20 presidential election.
In April, the KMT had threatened to sue Chou over remarks on her show in which she said the party, in a bid to mobilize crowds to attend its March 27 demonstration, had paid individuals NT$3,000 each to participate in the protest.
Chou said she was not intimidated, adding that her remarks concerning the demonstration were backed by sound evidence.
While Chou was not available for comment yesterday, Eastern TV said that it respects the professionalism of Chou and the political commentators and would respect any court decision on the matter.
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