The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday said that a probe into former deputy council minister Chang Hsien-yao’s (張顯耀) actions had been handed over to the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau, but it refused to say what aspect of Chang’s work has been called into question and investigated in light of the council’s “suspicions.”
Chang later yesterday decried the council’s announcement as “a mafia-style hunt.”
Council spokeswoman Wu Mei-hung (吳美紅) told a news conference in Taipei that the Investigation Bureau has secured “a lot of information” and had decided, after coordinating with the council, to take the case.
Photo: Courtesy of TVBS
Wu said the decision was made because “the suspicions about Chang’s work partially involve national security,” adding that the council would “cooperate with the bureau on the investigation.”
Asked whether the bureau has already visited the council’s office to perform a search, Wu said no.
However, “[Mainland Affairs Council Minister] Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) and [Investigation Bureau Director-General] Wang Chung-yi (汪忠一) have talked over the telephone,” Wu said.
Photo: CNA
Wu declined to categorize the seriousness of Chang’s alleged violations of national security, emphasizing that his case has been handed over to the bureau and it would be up to bureau officials to report on the investigation.
Later in the day, Chang took part in a political talk show on cable TV network TVBS — scheduled to be broadcast at 10pm — in which he tearfully said that he had not failed the nation or President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
“I am very grateful to the president, but Mr President, you have been given information that is contrary to the facts,” he said.
Chang added he has made his “preparations” and “written relevant information in [my] will.”
“I know too many things and I considered some of them inappropriate. I made suggestions. Maybe my straightforward suggestions or my objections to certain matters have offended some people,” he said.
“This kind of hunt is like the mafia crushingly hunting down a traitor. I am deeply chilled by the act,” Chang told the talk show host.
The council and Chang have traded claims since the Cabinet announced on Saturday last week that Chang had resigned as the council’s principal deputy minister for “family reasons” and his position would be filled by council Deputy Minister Lin Chu-chia (林祖嘉).
Chang on Sunday night released a statement suggesting that he had been asked to step down.
On Monday morning, the council held a news conference, where Wu said the council had made the request that Chang leave because of “suspicions about his work.”
She said the council had been trying to protect Chang when it issued its statement on Saturday.
Following the council’s news conference, Chang released another statement on Monday at noon, saying that he “followed the instructions of the president, the National Security Council’s secretary-general and [the Mainland Affairs] Council’s minister” all throughout his work for the council.
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