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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Society
DJ appeals deportation
The Taipei High Administra-tive Court opened an investigation yesterday into a request by former ICRT DJ Charles Mack that his deportation order be lifted. The Taipei Municipal Police Department ordered Mack, better known by his nickname "Chocolate," be deported by today, because of allegations that he had intentionally spread syphilis and sexually assaulted two male college students. Mack responded by issuing an open statement that said he was discriminated against because of his skin color and sexual orientation. He also filed a suit with the court to have the deportation order lifted so that he can continue living in Taiwan. The police department said that it has acted according to the Immigration Law (入出國及移民法), which states that foreigners who are a danger to public health or social order must be deported. Mack submitted hospital documents to show that he has been cured of syphilis and that he poses no danger of infecting others with the disease.

■ Diplomacy
Palau officials to visit
Two Palau ministers will visit Taipei next week to attend a party marking the relocation of the island nation's embassy to a foreign mission complex in Tienmou, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. Officials said that Minister of State Temmy Shmull and Minister of Finance Elbuchel Sadang will preside over the tea party scheduled for Monday. The officials noted that since Taiwan and Palau established relations in December 1999, they have maintained close and friendly ties. Taiwan has donated medical equipment to prevent the spread of dengue fever and set up agricultural missions offering training classes and field demonstrations, as well as providing guidance to Palau farmers. Taiwanese tourists also made 28,000 visits to Palau last year, making the country the largest source of tourists for the West Pacific island, they added.

■ Politics
DPP caucus holds handover
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held a legislative caucus leadership turnover ceremony yesterday. Legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯) took over the position of director-general from Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁)while Lee Chun-yee (李俊毅) took over as secretary-general from Chiu Chui-chen (邱垂貞). Legislator Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) is staying on as convener for a third straight term. The three were elected to those positions by the 87-member caucus on Jan 12. The one-year tenure of DPP caucus leaders is longer than their counterparts in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party (PFP), who vote on new whips each legislative session.

■ Crime
Pair indicted for murder
A motorcycle technician and his assistant were indicted yesterday for the rape and murder of a female insurance agent. According to the Taichung prosecutors' indictment, 39-year-old Chen Chin-huo (陳金火) attacked 28-year-old Shih Chin-chi (施金池) while she was making a business call and beat her unconscious. Chen's assistant, 20-year-old Kwang Teh-chiang (廣德強), then allegedly raped Shih at Chen's request. The prosecutors say Chen later chopped off Shih's arms and the legs and then dumped the body into the water tank of his home. Prosecutors have requested Chen's case be tried as a capital case, meaning he could face the death penalty. He has not confessed to the crimes. Prosecutors have asked for a 23-and-a-half-years sentence for Kwang.

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