The Fair Trade Commission yesterday issued the National Medical Equipment Co with a fine of NT$150,000 for profiteering.
The company was found selling N95 healthcare particulate respirators, that cost between NT$59 and NT$79 at retail stores, for NT$700 each.
According to the commission, officials received complaints alleging that the company was taking advantage of the increasing demand for surgical masks, especially N95 respirators.
The commission assigned an official to visit the company yesterday and it was discovered that N95 respirators were being sold at the higher price.
In addition, it was not clearly stated where the surgical masks sold at the company were made or what their invoice prices were, which was in further violation of the Fair Trade Law (
As a result, the commission decided to issue the NT$150,000 fine.
To make sure that respirators are available at all times, Secretary-General to the President, Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) said at a press conference that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has asked domestic respirator manufacturers to increase their production.
Meanwhile, during the fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), the Cabinet has the authorization to distribute all imported masks to those who need them.
In addition, the president also asked military logistics units to help produce as many masks as possible.
In response to the president's request, the Logistics Command Center immediately said that supplying masks would not be a problem.
"We still have plenty of masks in stock, so mask supply will not be a problem. Now that we have accepted the assignment, our 302nd Factory will be responsible for production and will deliver 25,000 to 30,000 masks a day," said Vice Admiral Kung Chia-cheng (
In the meantime, DPP Legislator Lee Chen-nan (
Liu said at a press conference yesterday morning that "a DPP lawmaker allegedly tried to earn some extra money by purchasing 500,000 surgical masks from retailers, then doubling the price when he sold them."
In addition to pressing the suit against Liu, Lee said that he would resign his position if prosecutors discovered any evidence to prove him guilty.
Liu said that his information came from newspaper stories and he never singled out by name any of his colleagues. I did not say it was him. So, where does this libel suit come from?" Liu said.
When approached by reporters yesterday, Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (
"It is an offense that merits public prosecution, so prosecutors will decide whether to start investigating this issue," he said.
Article 251 states that "a person who by threats, violence, or fraud commits one of the following offenses shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than five years:
1.Obstructs the sale or transportation of grain or other foodstuffs needed by the public, thereby causing a deficiency in the market; 2.Obstructs the sale or transportation of seed, fertilizer, raw material, or other basics needed in agriculture or industry, thereby causing a deficiency in the market."
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first case of a new COVID-19 subvariant — BA.3.2 — in a 10-year-old Singaporean girl who had a fever upon arrival in Taiwan and tested positive for the disease. The girl left Taiwan on March 20 and the case did not have a direct impact on the local community, it said. The WHO added the BA.3.2 strain to its list of Variants Under Monitoring in December last year, but this was the first imported case of the COVID-19 variant in Taiwan, CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said. The girl arrived in Taiwan on
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
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