A Christian service was held yesterday for navy Captain Yin Ching-feng (尹清楓), who was killed 14 years ago in a murder associated with the Lafayette frigate procurement scandal, with his family hoping the nation will uncover the truth behind the murder.
"President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) promised to find out the truth behind the murder and the Lafayette scandal, and my family hopes President Chen will work hard on this matter during the remaining months of his tenure," Yin Ching-feng's widow, Li Mei-kuei (李美葵), said yesterday at the ceremony.
Following Yin's death in late 1993, Li and Yin's father, Yin Duo (尹鐸), traveled the country collecting information to try to solve the mystery of Yin's death, but to no avail.
Li said she stopped the probe seven years ago and now believes that God can help the family find out the truth and bring justice.
The Christian ceremony was held in a church in Taipei yesterday morning.
Yin's body was found floating along the coast near Suao (蘇澳) on Dec. 10, 1993, by fishermen and his body was buried in Kaohsiung County after the completion of an autopsy.
Yin's family had hoped to arrange a cremation and for his ashes to be kept in a Taipei cemetery, but the special investigation panel in charge of the case refused because the investigation into the case was still ongoing.
Yin's family yesterday were finally able to bring Yin's ashes in a urn up to Taipei and settle them in a columbarium.
Yin's murder, thought to be associated with the Lafayette frigate procurement scandal, remains unsolved after 14 years. Yin is widely believed to have been about to blow the whistle on colleagues who were taking kickbacks from the deal.
The government's original plan in 1988 was to purchase South Korean-made frigates, but then decided in 1990 to purchase the French-made Lafayette frigates instead.
Several naval officials were indicted for their involvement in the case, but prosecutors were still unable to discover who the mastermind behind the arms deal was and who else had received kickbacks.
Andrew Wang (汪傳浦) -- a key suspect in the kickback scandal -- fled the country following Yin's murder.
All of Wang and his family's bank accounts have since been frozen by the Swiss Federal Court.
Wang was indicted by prosectors in absentia on charges of murder, corruption, money laundering and fraud.
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore