A debt collection agency has hired a team of HIV-positive patients to scare debtors into paying back their obligations, and the company plans to target several public officials, the firm's founder said yesterday.
The HIV patients simply approach the debtors or attempt to hug them. Although casual contact does not lead to the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the idea is to frighten the debtors with the possibility of coming into contact with someone who carries the virus.
Tung Nien-tai (
Tung accused Wei of helping a debtor avoid paying back his obligations, and therefore the agency's team plans to give Wei a "hug."
In addition to Wei, incoming director of the National Police Administration, Wang Chin-wang (
The debt collector said Wang and other officers have helped debtors avoid their creditors.
Specifically, Tung alleged that Wei used his influence to protect Chen An-chih (
Tung accused Chen of deceptively soliciting more than NT$50 million from his students, some of whom are now Tung's clients.
The debt collector also accused Wei and police officials of protecting the wealthy, famous man while ignoring less well-off debtors.
In response to the charges, Wei said yesterday that he "despised" Tung's use of HIV patients as a debt collection "tool," though he added that he was not personally bothered by the tactic.
Wei also said that any dispute between Chen and his students should be resolved in court, and that he has never pressured police into providing protection for Chen.
Wei said that Chen himself had sought the protection of police.
Tung, an ex-convict, said he wanted to create job opportunities for HIV patients when he formed the debt collection agency. He said that his tactics are legal, and that the use of HIV patients could prove effective in collecting money owed to his clients.
Though taken back by Tung's use of HIV patients, police officials say the tactic does not violate any law, unless a person attempts to infect another with HIV.
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