Lees attack latest report concerning casino visits

The Lee's allegations: * The Presidential Office was fully aware of Chen's controversial trip to South Korea in 2002 * The Presidential Office notified airport authorities to grant Chen and his party the preferential treatment that is usually given to government officials or diplomats by airport customs officials Source: Taipei Times

Two pan-blue lawmakers yesterday admitted to having visited a casino in Macau after the Liberty Times, the Taipei Times' sister paper, revealed the information in its edition yesterday.

However, they said that it was entirely a private trip conducted "with a mission" and that they did not receive any special treatment during the trip.

The Liberty Times report told how a China-based Taiwanese businessman surnamed Liu had informed the paper that he saw People First Party (PFP) Legislator Diane Lee (李慶安), her brother, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lee Ching-hua (李慶華) and their father Lee Huan (李煥), a former premier, together in a Macau casino in May.

According to Liu's story, the Lee's were accompanied by a man with a Beijing accent and Lee Ching-hua, along with his father, spent a good deal of time in a "chicken farm," or whorehouse, on the first floor of the casino.

Liu said that he had almost forgotten about the encounter until he recently returned to the country and saw the pair accusing former deputy secretary-general Chen Che-nan (陳哲男).

Diane Lee and Lee Ching-hua have alleged that the Presidential Office was fully aware of Chen's controversial trip to South Korea in 2002 because he was accompanied by an official bodyguard.

They also claimed that the Presidential Office must have known of Chen's trip and notified airport authorities to grant Chen and his party the preferential treatment usually given to government officials or diplomats by airport customs officials.

In addition to sightseeing, both Diane Lee and Lee Ching-hua claimed they interviewed some people there in a bid to find out more about the alleged trip taken by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) during his tenure as Taipei City Mayor.

Lee Ching-hua described the mysterious Liu as an "special agent" and said he was curious to know why he was there watching his family instead of enjoying himself at the casino.

He alleged that he and his sister have been followed, have had their telephones tapped and their departure and arrival records examined and now they are being attacked by the president's "royal media."

Lee Ching-hua called on the Presidential Office to spend more effort investigating its own corruption and scandals instead of trying to deflect the media's attention.

The pair said they are "seriously considering" taking legal action against the paper.

In response, in a report which is slated to run in today's Liberty Times, Liu reportedly dismissed the accusation that he is a special agent and emphasized that he does not have anything to do with the Presidential Office.

He said that the reason he provided the information to the media was simply because he thought the Lee's shouldn't apply double standards to people who visit casinos.