Former Non-Partisan Solidarity Union legislator Yen Ching-piao (顏清標) was yesterday released from Taichung Prison on parole, after serving just over 400 days of his sentence for corruption and firearm possession.
Opposition parties and critics lashed out at the Ministry of Justice for the speed at which Yen’s parole request was granted, since it took just four days to process.
Taichung Prison gave preliminary approval for his parole request on Tuesday. The request was processed unusually fast, being passed by the Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office Taichung Branch, the Taiwan High Court Taichung Branch Court and the Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office.
According to Chinese-language news reports, judicial officials defended the swift processing , saying it was handled normally, and that Yen was eligible for release because of good behavior. However, critics said the speedy processing of the paperwork hinted at political pressure.
Yen returned to prison in February last year to serve the remainder of a seven-year sentence that he began in August 2008. He served one-third of a three-and-half year sentence for illegal possession of firearms before being released on parole in May 2009.
The controversial politician has enormous influence in Taichung. He is alleged to have been involved in racketeering, illegal gravel business, attempted murder and other criminal activities.
Yen served four terms as an independent legislator from 2002 to 2012, though he had a close association and good working relationship with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
His son, KMT Legislator Yen Kuang-hen (顏寬恆), now occupies his father’s old seat after winning a by-election in January of last year.
Some Greater Taichung residents said last night the parole was a political move by the KMT, as Yen and his family’s influence and financial resources are needed to help the party’s campaign for the year-end seven-in-one elections in November.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
RSS