Two Taiwanese businessmen who were arrested in Guam earlier this month are now being detained in New York City on suspicions they attempted to purchase items on a controlled list, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
The ministry said personnel from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office have visited the businessmen at the detention center.
However, it said that at this time the ministry could not comment further on the case.
The US authorities detained the businessmen on charges of attempting to purchase controlled high-tech products during a business meeting on US soil.
According to the ministry’s Department of North American Affairs Director-General Bruce Linghu (令狐榮達), the case is already being investigated in the US, but out of respect for the detainees and their family, he was unable to comment more.
Ministry spokesman Steve Hsia (夏季昌) also said that US authorities refused to release any other details related to the incident because the case is under investigation, adding that the ministry and its US branch would continue to offer their aid to the detainees during the judicial proceedings.
“Our people in the New York Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office have already visited the businessmen twice, and they are well,” Hsia said, adding that should the detainees’ family members wish to travel to the US, the office would also help with the visa application process.
A court hearing on the case has already been held once and the ministry will keep in contact with US prosecutors for updates on the case when possible, Hsia said.
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