The Taipei District Court on Wednesday ordered former minister of national defense Michael Tsai (蔡明憲) and three other people to pay Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Tsai Chin-lung (蔡錦隆) NT$1 million (US$34,000) and post an apology in the nation’s main newspapers for alleging that Tsai Chi-lung had interfered with the military’s production of a 40mm grenade-launching armored personnel carrier without providing evidence.
Michael Tsai, former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators Ho Min-hao (何敏豪) and Hsieh Ming-yuan (謝明源), and former general manager of state-funded Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC) Lo Cheng-fang (羅正方) were ordered to compensate Tsai Chin-lung and publish an apology in the top four newspapers.
The four can appeal the decision with the Taiwan High Court.
At a press conference in which all four participated on Nov. 27, 2007, Ho said AIDC had won a bid to manufacture the vehicles.
Ho alleged at the time that SYM Taiwan, which lost the bid, asked Tsai Chin-lung to intervene in the deal by asking the ministry to temporarily suspend production of the vehicles.
Ho urged the Ministry of National Defense not to abide by this “ridiculous” request to temporarily suspend production of the vehicles.
Lo said the company had won the bid “fair and square” and the ministry should resume the contract or any further delays would infringe on the rights of the firm’s employees.
Michael Tsai expressed his support for those remarks during the press conference, prompting Tsai Chin-lung to file a defamation lawsuit against the four.
Tsai Chih-lung told the court that as a legislator, he carried out his duty and joined a review of a prototype of 40mm grenade-launching armored personnel carrier produced by AIDC and found the vehicle did not match the standards required in the bid, so he asked the military to suspend production of the vehicles.
Tsai Chin-lung said he had only inspected a public matter and he had no relations with other contractors.
Michael Tsai and the other defendants told the court the matter concerned public interest and they had enough reason to question why Tsai Chin-lung had interfered with the process.
The district court ruled the four defendants failed to offer evidence to prove that their accusations were based on fact.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS