Kuo Yu-ling (
Still, Kuo refused to name the person who instructed her to set up elaborate surveillance operations of Chu.
Police have uncovered phone taps and hidden cameras in Chu's home, car and former office at Hsinchu's Bureau of Cultural Affairs. Chu's mobile phone was also tapped.
Meanwhile, Chinese-language media reported yesterday that former Hsinchu mayor Tsai Jen-chien (
Reports quoted unnamed sources as saying Tsai gave Chu roughly NT$10 million in cash. He also bought her a Hsinchu home worth NT$8 million.
Tsai had tried to take back the gifts after the couple broke up, but Chu refused, the report said.
Prosecutors have refused to comment on the reports. They are expected to summon Tsai for questioning today.
As early as May, Tsai had asked Kuo to hire detectives to follow Chu, the report said.
The surveillance began to expand after Tsai discovered that Chu had been meeting with other men, the report said.
A detective agency in Hsinchu has confirmed that Tsai introduced them to Kuo. Kuo asked the agency to install surveillance and eavesdropping devices in Chu's house, office and car.
But the report said it was unlikely Tsai sold the sex-video footage to illegal video vendors.
The surveillance plan likely spun out of control after Kuo sold the video to vendors, the report said.
The VCDs started appearing on roadside stands as early as October.
Prosecutors have confirmed that the copy of a 40-minute sex video obtained and distributed by Scoop Weekly earlier this month was not the original master copy.
Prosecutors are also said to be looking into reports that Kuo may posses secret bank accounts where she keeps more than NT$5 million gained from the sale of the sex video footage.
Several VCD companies have confirmed that Kuo contacted them and tried to sell them the footage at prices as high as NT$3 million. Kuo may also have gained "royalty" payments from vendors, the report said.
‘UNFRIENDLY’: Changing the nationality listing of Taiwanese residents to ‘China’ goes against EU foreign policy as well as democratic and human rights principles, MOFA said Taiwan yesterday called on Denmark to correct its designation of the nationality of Taiwanese residents as “China” or face retaliatory measures. The Danish government in 2024 changed the nationality of Taiwanese citizens on their residence permits from “Taiwan” to “China.” The decision goes against EU foreign policy and contravenes democratic and human rights principles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) said. Denmark should present a solution acceptable to Taiwan as soon as possible and correct the erroneous designation to preserve the longstanding friendship between the two nations, Hsiao said. The issue could damage Denmark’s image and business reputation in Taiwan,
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
DEROGATORY: WTO host Cameroon’s designation of Taiwan as a ‘province of China’ seriously undermines the nation’s status and rights as a WTO member, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday condemned Cameroon for listing Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China” in visa documents for an upcoming WTO ministerial conference, a move that led to Taiwan’s withdrawal from the event. The designation “seriously undermined” Taiwan’s status and rights as a WTO member, the ministry said in a statement. It is the first time since 2001 that Taiwan has declined to attend a WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday next week in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Taiwan had planned to send a delegation led by Minister Without Portfolio