Executive Yuan Spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) yesterday said Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) would sue the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) candidate for Nantou County commissioner, Lee Wen-chung (李文忠), if Lee failed to substantiate allegations against Wu by midnight last night.
Lee said that Wu, Chiang Chin-liang (江欽良) — a convicted felon on parole — and Nantou County Commissioner Lee Chao-ching (李朝卿) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) were on a trip together to Bali, Indonesia, last December to settle the distribution of profits from the local gravel trade as well as select a new Nantou County Council speaker and vice speaker.
Su said Lee should prove his claims or apologize to the premier, adding that Wu would file a lawsuit today if Lee failed to produce evidence.
Wu has been on the defensive since Next Magazine published a story last Wednesday suggesting that he had ties to Chiang. Chiang, now chairman of the Tsaoyetun Night Market Association in Tsaotun Township (草屯), was convicted of murder in two separate cases: the slaying of a Changhua gangster and a Nantou County council member in 1983 and 1985 respectively.
Last Thursday, Wu denied the allegations that he was involved in helping Chiang obtain permission to meet gangster Kuo Ping-hui (郭平輝) in prison in January. Kuo was the mastermind behind an infamous staged threat that was televised in 2007.
But Wu called a press conference the next day to concede that the meeting was arranged with his assistance after the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) published a report citing Wu Cheng-po (吳正博), warden of the Taichung prison where Kuo is incarcerated, that the meeting was arranged by Wu in his capacity as lawmaker.
Wu’s alleged ties to Chiang and the gravel trade continued to draw attention yesterday as records of donations to Wu were made public.
The Control Yuan Gazette reported that Wu accepted a non-cash donation of NT$100,000 from Chiang and NT$200,000 in cash from the Sung Ye gravel company during his most recent legislative campaign in Nantou County.
In response, Wu yesterday said the non-cash donation referred to rental fees saved when Chiang let him hold a campaign rally free of charge next to the night market Chiang managed.
“The fact that I registered [this as a] donation proves two things,” Wu said. “First, I was a law-abiding candidate, as I kept records of all donations to my campaign down to the last details. Second, there is nothing ... to hide.”
Wu said the gravel company also made a donation of NT$300,000 to Lin Yun-sheng (林耘生), his DPP rival in the election.
Meanwhile, Lee Wen-chung yesterday said he was not afraid of a lawsuit, adding that a “secret witness” was prepared to testify against Wu in a closed-door hearing.
At a separate setting yesterday, DPP Legislator William Lai (賴清德) said Wu had a track record of lying and close links to crime syndicates that made him unfit for his position.
“Wu used to be a habitual liar and that’s why he was nicknamed ‘The Lying Mayor’ when he governed Kaohsiung City,” Lai told reporters. “When he became the premier, we urged him to change his ways, but clearly he hasn’t.”
Lai demanded that Wu vacate his office immediately.
DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Wu was engaging in “political gambling” by telling the public that he would step down only if Lee Wen-chung could produce evidence.
“I am shocked by [Wu’s] attitude. In this situation, he is the one with the administrative power, yet he is using it to squash a civilian,” Tsai said.
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first case of a new COVID-19 subvariant — BA.3.2 — in a 10-year-old Singaporean girl who had a fever upon arrival in Taiwan and tested positive for the disease. The girl left Taiwan on March 20 and the case did not have a direct impact on the local community, it said. The WHO added the BA.3.2 strain to its list of Variants Under Monitoring in December last year, but this was the first imported case of the COVID-19 variant in Taiwan, CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said. The girl arrived in Taiwan on
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park this weekend, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a theme food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances. Pokemon Go Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as photo attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs. Pokemon trainers could also experience the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area. Three PokeStops are to be set up in the park. Trainers are invited to take
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