Tax evader catches women's attention

For the women who love him, Huang Jen-chung (黃任中) -- a Taipei celebrity who became famous for his success in speculating on the stock market -- is a man of great charm; but for the National Tax Administration, he is just another scummy citizen trying to avoid paying taxes.

As part of the government's attempts to collect NT$1.4 billion in outstanding tax revenue and interest Huang owes, the Ministry of Justice on Friday visited two of Huang's properties in Taipei City.

The justice ministry seized Huang's properties on government orders after Huang failed to present a proposal on how he would repay the debt.

Huang had earlier publicly refused to pay the amount, saying that "tax evasion is every citizen's obligation."

"I'd rather go to the jail than pay taxes," Huang said during a press conference. "I'll appeal to the Supreme Court if I have to. And if I lose, I'll keep trying and request an interpretation of the Constitution by the Council of Grand Justices."

The justice ministry first confiscated Huang's properties on Nov. 7, including 11 antiques pieces, Chinese paintings and calligraphy.

The tax administration requested Huang come up with a proposal regarding how to pay off the debts within a week.

According to the administration, Huang netted some NT$5 billion in 1995 after selling off stakes owned by his company -- the Huang Lung Investment Co (皇龍投資) -- in Far East Air Transport Corp (遠東航空).

In addition to refusing to pay the income tax on the gains, Huang took the case to court. The court, however, ruled against Huang in early November, causing the tax administration to hound him on the default.

Although the tax administration found out that Huang now owns little property and has only NT$1 million in his bank account, the administration suspects that Huang might have transferred most of his money and properties to his friends and family.

In addition to dodging taxes, Huang is involved in the Taiwan Pineapple (台鳳) and Ever Fortune (長億) cases, which resulted in his being barred from leaving the country until a final verdict is reached in the two cases.

On Feb. 3, 2000, Huang was indicted along with 19 other people for illegally speculating on the Taiwan Pineapple Group.

He was charged with violating the Securities Transaction Law (證券交易法) and the Money Laundering Control Law (洗錢防制法), by trading without transferring ownership and manipulating the price of negotiable securities.

Huang was also indicted for stock speculation in the Ever Fortune Industrial Co.

Ever Fortune is the largest shareholder in EverTransit International Development Corp (長生公司) -- which is building the rail system that will connect Taipei with CKS International Airport.

Although Ever Fortune also operates the profit-making Ever Power Plant (長生電廠) in Taoyuan, Ever Fortune has been considering liquidating 18 percent of its stake in the power plant in order to pay back NT$1.5 billion in corporate debt and an outstanding NT$3.5 billion syndicated loan.

Huang has blamed all his financial troubles on his "refusal to bow to vicious power."

Huang alleged on Jan. 26 that prosecutors and investigators dealing with the Taiwan Pineapple case had attempted to extort money from him.

"They said that if I paid them NT$100 million, they would drop their investigation," Huang said. "In the end, more than 20 people were indicted, including me, just because I refused to pay."