The chairman of Formosa Plastics Group, Wang Yung-ching (王永慶), believes he was justified in calling People First Party Legislator Chin Huei-chu (秦慧珠) a "disreputable" legislator, the Taipei District Court heard yesterday.
The industry mogul did not appear at the first court hearing on a NT$50 million libel suit that Chin has lodged against him.
But Wang's lawyer, Lin Kuei-mei (林貴美), said that his client's criticisms of Chin were prompted by the legislator's "nonsensical" accusation that Wang had acted as a cross-strait envoy on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
From the end of last year, Chin began accusing Wang of being a cross-strait representative of Chen. Chin has accused Wang and his son, Winston Wang (
In subsequent media interviews, Wang rebuked Chin's allegations as groundless and referred to her as a "disreputable" legislator.
Wang and Chin have both filed defamation suites against one another and the criminal cases are still being investigated by the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office. The Taipei District Court opened the trial yesterday on a separate claim, in which Chin requested Wang pay NT$50 million in damages and offer an apology in newspapers.
Wang's lawyer said Chin has made the envoy allegations without any tangible evidence. Wang believes it is justifiable that he fought back by calling Chin "disputable," his lawyer said.
"What Wang has done is only a just defense because it is Chin who started the fight," Wang's lawyer said.
Chin said Wang's remarks have tarnished her reputation and claims that she has proof of Wang's role as Chen's envoy.
She did not show the "evidence" at yesterday's hearing, but the trial judge in this case asked her to present it within 10 days. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 3.
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