Wang `helped' in Cheng's release

Cheng Min-kun, second left, the vice chairman of the Jenlan Temple, is accompanied by colleagues yesterday as he gives thanks to Matsu for protecting him during his 10-day kidnapping ordeal. PHOTO; TSAI CHIH-MING, TAIPEI TIMES

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) yesterday told reporters he had asked National Security Bureau (NSB) to help locate Cheng Ming-kun (鄭銘坤) while he was being held captive.

Cheng, the deputy chairman of the Jenlan Temple, (鎮瀾宮) was released Friday night after being held for 10 days by kidnappers.

"I called NSB Director-General Hsueh Shih-ming (薛石民) and asked him to find Cheng," Wang said, but he denied that Yen Ching-piao (顏清標), the chairman of Jenlan Temple and also a legislator, asked him to do so.

"I did that just to help rescue a friend," Wang said.

Local news reports said Cheng and Yen have a close relationship, and Yen had used his political power and alleged mafia connections to try to save Cheng.

Chinese-language newspapers said that while Cheng was being held, Yen and another person tried to bypass the police and communicate directly with the kidnappers.

Local media also yesterday identified gang member Lee Jaw-hsiung (李照雄) who allegedly contacted the kidnappers to negotiate with them and get them to reduce a ransom demand from NT$100 million (US$3.1 million) down to NT$25 million. It is unclear whether the ransom was actually paid.

Cheng denied that his family paid NT$25 million, and newspapers alleged he did not want police to investigate the crime because of Cheng's alleged shady business dealings, which may have been connected to the kidnapping.

In April, Lee had helped to negotiate the ransom and secure the release of Yu Kuo-chu (于國柱), who was kidnapped by notorious gangster Chang Hsi-ming (張錫銘), according to local media. Yu was released after an estimated NT$500 million ransom was paid.

Local newspapers also reported that Yu made roughly NT$10 billion last year from an international sports gambling and casino Web site, which is illegal in Taiwan.

Newspapers, in addition, said Lee also had helped secure the release of Taichung City Council Speaker Chang Hung-nien (張宏年), who was kidnapped in 2002 and freed after Chang's family paid NT$30 million in ransom money.

In addition to Lee's help, newspapers said in order to rescue Cheng, one of his closest friends, Yen "mobilized" as many gangsters as he could to save Cheng's life.

Newspapers said Cheng was treated well by his captors during the 10-day ordeal as a result of Lee's influence. Reports also said the kidnappers feared retribution from gangsters should they have killed Cheng.

According to police, the kidnappers not only gave him food and led him take showers, but also offered him medicine for diabetes.

Newspapers also said that police were bothered by the way "gang members dealt with other gang members."

Taichung police yesterday said that members of the Lin Ming-hwa (林明樺) criminal group, which was involved in a brutal shooting at a tea house in Taichung last year, likely committed the kidnapping.

They also said they have increased coastal patrols to prevent the criminals from fleeing the country.