The Taipei District Court Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said former First Financial Holding Co chairman Jerome Chen (陳建隆) has been placed on the wanted list after failing to appear for an investigation in which he has been accused of forging documents to allow a female Chinese friend to enter Taiwan.
The prosecutors’ office said prosecutors had summoned him for questioning several times, but Chen failed to show up.
Prosecutors suspect he has stayed abroad and as result he has been placed on the wanted list, which could last until December 2034.
Chen’s wife is former minister of economic affairs Christine Tsung (宗才怡).
Prosecutors said Chen was suspected of writing over Tsung’s name when he filled in a household document and is believed to have used the full name of a Chinese woman, surnamed Huang (黃), instead.
Chen also allegedly obtained a fake Republic of China (ROC) passport for Huang, as well as a fake document from police authorities proving that Huang had no criminal record in Taiwan.
Prosecutors alleged that Chen represented Huang when she applied for citizenship of, and a passport from, Burkina Faso — a diplomatic ally of Taiwan.
Burkina Faso law stipulates that any ROC citizen who invests more than US$10,000 in the country can apply for citizenship, prosecutors said, adding that Chen’s purpose may have been to allow Huang to enter Taiwan with a passport from the African nation.
Police authorities have determined that the copies of the three documents used for the applications in Burkina Faso were fake, prosecutors said.
Local media have speculated that 38-year-old Huang is romantically involved with Chen.
Prosecutors added that it was suspicious Chen had been accompanied by a man called Lee Chih-yuan (李志元) whom Huang had paid US$44,000 when she made her application in Burkina Faso.
Prosecutors said Jerome Chen, Huang and Lee are all defendants in the case.
Typhoon Saudel has shown signs of weakening but is still expected to affect Taiwan when it comes closest to the nation on Friday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. The radius of Saudel shrank to about 220km as of 8am today from 250km a day earlier, and its maximum sustained winds were down to 155kph from 184kph previously, the weather agency said. As of 8am, Typhoon Saudel was 980km east of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 18kph, it said. Under the influence of a Pacific high pressure system, the storm is moving northward, meaning it is less likely to make landfall in Taiwan,
Minister of Sports Lee Yang (李洋) today said the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA) has been urged not to undermine Taiwan’s credibility in international competitions, after a Taiwanese team advanced to the semi-finals of the 45th William Jones Cup over the Philippines last week due to a controversial new rule guaranteeing a semi-final place to the host team. The Republic of China Blue team advanced to the semi-finals after winning just one game in the group round due to a “host guarantee” spot, overtaking the Philippines, who held a 5-1 record ahead of the semi-finals. The Blue team finished the tournament
A sea warning for Typhoon Saudel, which has shifted to a more northerly track as it nears Taiwan, is expected early tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. As of this morning, Saudel was about 650km east-northeast of Taipei, moving west-northwest at 12kph with maximum sustained winds of 162kph, CWA data showed. Although Saudel remains a moderate typhoon, it has weakened and is expected to weaken further as it nears Taiwan due to unfavorable atmospheric and ocean conditions, CWA forecaster Lin Po-tung (林伯東) said. The storm is forecast to make its closest approach to Taiwan tomorrow and on Friday, Lin added. According to
SEA WARNING EXPECTED: As atmospheric conditions are unfavorable for its development, the storm’s intensity is continuing to weaken, a CWA official said Typhoon Saudel is continuing to weaken and shift its path northward, with a sea warning expected to be issued this evening, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency did not rule out issuing a land warning for outlying Lienchiang County (Matsu) tomorrow morning, although all storm warnings could be lifted by Friday night. Saudel is expected to be closest to Taiwan from tomorrow night to Friday, bringing localized heavy rain to northern and southern Taiwan, as well as central mountainous areas, the agency said. As of 2pm yesterday, the center of moderate Typhoon Saudel was about 890km east-northeast
RSS