Gangsters target families of flight CI-611's victims

Family members of those killed on China Airlines flight CI-611 have been the subject of extortion attempts by gangsters, Chinese-language media reported the Ministry of Justice as saying yesterday.

The MOJ was informed about such blackmail cases by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) yesterday morning, the reports said. According to the MOJ, gangsters have repeatedly contacted the relatives of the victims, who stand to receive large amounts in compensation from the airline and insurance companies, over the past few weeks.

The reports gave the example of a family in Taoyuan surnamed Chung (鍾), which lost seven family members in the crash. Gangsters have apparently repeatedly tried to extort money from the family, which is expected to get more than NT$100 million (about US$3 million) in compensation.

According to Political Vice Minister of Justice Hsieh Wen-ting (謝文定), his ministry was shocked to learn about the extortion cases, the reports said.

"The blackmailers are so detestable," Hsieh said, stressing that both the Taoyuan District Prosecutors' Office and the Penghu District Prosecutors' Office are investigating these cases.

"The MOJ has also informed local prosecutors' offices across the nation to severely punish these gangsters once they are caught," Hsieh added.

Hsieh urged those family members who have been contacted by gangsters to call the police or local prosecutors' offices as soon as possible.

According to Hsieh, once the family members of the victims report an extortion case to the authorities, the police will provide the necessary protection for them in accordance with the nation's Witness Protection Law (證人保護法).