Wu Ching-kuo (吳經國), Taiwan's sole representative to the International Olympic Committee, assured a district court yesterday he would not dodge the repayment of a NT$2 million debt.
Judge Cheng Li-yen (鄭麗燕), with the district court's enforcement division, ordered a travel ban against Wu on July 25 while Wu was away in Switzerland. Wu had failed to attend a court hearing on the debt dispute.
Having returned to Taiwan yesterday morning, Wu made an afternoon court appearance and gave assurances to the judge that he would resolve the issue quickly.
According to the court, Wu was a guarantor for a NT$2 million loan made in 1996 while he was chairman of a private business.
The creditor, with a promissory note from Wu, filed a request with the court for enforcement of the debt last year.
Judge Cheng said she had subpoenaed Wu several times since the creditor asked the court to intervene, but he had failed to respond. It was under these circumstances that the judge decided to issue the travel ban.
Wu told the judge yesterday he would talk to the creditor and work out a repayment plan.
Despite Wu's assurances, Judge Cheng said yesterday the travel ban against him would remain in place until Wu provides details on how he intends to repay the debt.
This wasn't the first time Judge Cheng has curtailed Wu's ability to travel. Several years ago she did the same in connection with a tax repayment case. That case was resolved soon after the ban was issued.
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