Speaking through a friend, former Hsinchu mayor Tsai Jen-chien (
Tsai, who had a romantic relationship with Chu for four years, was seen driving Kuo Yu-ling (
Cheng Kwai-yuan (
"The media churn out different stories each day as though they are leading the investigation," Cheng quoted Tsai as saying. "But truth will prevail. I hope to appear before prosecutors as soon as possible to clear my name once and for all."
Cheng briefed reporters after Tsai visited him at his campaign headquarters, where the two talked for an hour and a half. Cheng is seeking to retain his seat in elections next month.
Tsai did not comment directly yesterday but his friend Hsu Wen-ping (
But investigators said they have not decided when to question Tsai, or if such questioning will be necessary.
The former mayor expressed outrage at reports that painted him as a vindictive jilted lover who instructed Kuo to spy on Chu and tape her sex encounters to take vengeance on Chu's betrayal.
Through his former deputy, Lin Cheng-chieh (
Lin said it is not impossible for rival camps to engage in the practice to boost their campaign and that he had his car checked for bugs in before the Dec 1 elections.
Plagued by rumors about his romantic life, Tsai lost his mayoral post to the KMT challenger, Lin said.
Meanwhile, investigators said that more master VCD recordings Chu's private life are likely still in circulation, based on codified information in Kuo's notebook.
They said that Kuo is cunning and has been very uncooperative during the investigation.
She would not say what the entries in her notebook meant or where the video tapes are, investigators said.
Earlier, Kuo admitted to hiring a private detective agency in Hsinchu to install the hidden camera at Chu's Tamsui apartment, but insisted she did so at Chu's request. Prosecutors put her in detention Wednesday for fear that she may destroy evidence implicating her in the crime. She works as an instructor for a Buddhist sect and had been an good friend of Chu.
Several VCD manufacturers testified that Kuo approached them last summer, asking for NT$3.5 million in exchange for the right to reproduce the copy of Chu's sex encounter with a married man.
But they turned down the offer, casting doubt over the legality of the deal.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
RSS