With escaped military detainee Lai Han-wei (
Lai, who was charged with robbery and attempted rape, and his fellow detainee Hsu Chen-hsiang (
After hiding for two weeks, Hsu was arrested on June 29 at an apartment in Hsintien. However, Lai is still on the run, reportedly accompanied by his father.
The prosecutors alleged that during their two weeks in hiding Lai and Hsu were assisted by Lai's parents, his girlfriend and five other relatives and friends, to avoid detection during a major search conducted by the police and the military.
The Taipei District Court began trial proceedings yesterday against the seven, who were charged with assisting the two escapees.
Lai's mother, Chu Yu-chan (
Lai's girlfriend admitted on the night of the escape she had met Lai and offered him over NT$20,000 at a hospital where he was being treated for a leg fracture. Lai broke his leg when he and Hsu jumped from the detention center's wall.
"I wanted to ask him to turn himself in, but we didn't talk too much because he was quite seriously wounded. He didn't want me to stick around for too long for fear that the police would find me and that I would also get into trouble," Lai's girlfriend said.
Both Lai's mother and his girlfriend denied at the hearing they are still in contact with Lai and his father.
Moreover, the wife of a friend of Lai admitted she had her first encounter with the escapees after they fled from the detention center.
She also admitted she and another friend had taken the escapees to hospital.
Lai's mother and his aunt have been detained and kept incommunicado since being arrested on July 4.
A friend of Lai's father, who allegedly drove Lai and his father in his taxi to seek shelter, was also detained.
After a request from defense lawyers, the court yesterday lifted the restraining orders put on the three detainees, but still ordered them to be kept in detention. The trial continues.
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