Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chiu Yi (
Chiu displayed a document he claimed proved his allegation in a press conference. But the name of the applicant was spelt in pseudo Hanyu pinyin as "Zhi Zhong Chen" rather than "Chen Chih-chung", the spelling of his name in Tong-yong pinyin favored by most Taiwanese use.
"Chen Chih-chung left his fingerprint on the form. That is his center finger," Chiu said.
PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
The document Chiu displayed was a completed "I-797 C Notice of Action" issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security.
The document, dated Oct. 24, 2005, required the applicant "Zhi Zhong Chen" to go to the USCIS's office located in the city of El Monte in California Nov. 30, 2005 at 12pm to have his fingerprints and biometrics taken.
"The lawyer entrusted by Chen Chih-chung to process the application had left his name and address on the form, but my informant blacked out the information before giving it to me," he said.
Chiu said he knew the lawyer's identity.
"His surname is Chien (
Since the application was filed at the USCIS about one year ago, Chen Chih-chung should have obtained or is about to obtain his US green card, Chiu said.
Chiu added that the "Form I-797" was used to apply for "Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status," the last stage of applying for a US green card.
"If Chen had already received the green card, he is not allowed to leave the US for a period of three years. If he does leave, he has to obtain `Form I-131,' which is difficult to get, to ensure his return to the US. That's why Chen Chih-chung is reluctant to come back to Taiwan at the moment," Chiu said.
Chiu claimed he had the attachments of the "Form I-797 C" in his possession, which would show Chen Chih-chung's investment in Tawa Supermarket in the US, and remittance transactions associated with the investment from Taiwan to the US.
Chiu, however, didn't disclose the attachments in the press conference, noting that he is considering disclosing Chen Chih-chung's social security number and a copy of his passport later on.
After reporters sought clarification, Chiu directly claimed Chen Chih-chung had put money into the Tawa Supermarket so that he could apply for US citizenship as an immigrant investor.
According to a news clip broadcast by SETTV yesterday, the supermarket would hold a press conference today to dismiss Chiu's accusation on the account.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Charles Chiang (
Chen Chih-chung's lawyer filed a lawsuit against Chiu and sought NT$100 million in compensation.
Lin Chih-hao (
Describing Chiu's allegations as "pure speculation" and "deliberate defamation," Lin said Chiu is an individual who "habitually makes random and unfounded accusations against others and refuses to clean up his act."
"We will continue to take legal action against Chiu every time he makes a false allegation against my client," he said. "We will ask prosecutors to take into account every false accusation Chiu makes against my client and increase the penalty."
Chen Chih-chung also issued a statement from the US via his lawyer's office, dismissing Chiu's allegations as "groundless."
He said he has never applied for US citizenship nor owned a second passport issued by a third country. Neither did he invest in 99 Ranch Market as Chiu claimed.
He said he is staying in the US on a student visa and is doing the optional practical training (OPT) for a law firm with an employment authorization card.
He said that the Romanization of his name was "Chen Chih-chung" not "Zhi Zhong Chen" as Chiu alleged.
Finally, he said he knew but had not had dealings with Mrs Tu -- a real estate agent that who Chiu alleged helped Chen invest in the US.
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