Taichung police yesterday said they tracked down a man who allegedly made repeated threats on his Facebook page that he was going to assassinate president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Taichung police officials said after they received reports of the threats they searched various social media sites and analyzed telecommunication records and located a man surnamed Chang (張), 37, who lives in Taichung’s Situn District (西屯).
Police said the man wrote various threats on his Facebook page following the presidential election, such as “I am going to assassinate Tsai Ing-wen.... ha, ha, ha,” and “On the day when Tsai assumes the presidency, my life will not be wasted by assassinating her.”
Criminal Investigation Division officers said they double-checked the information and telecommunication data to verify the messages came from Chang’s account, then compiled the evidence for the Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office to get permission to raid Chang’s residence and further investigate the case.
It is alleged that Chang might have a gangster connection, as he allegedly claimed to be a “hit man” working for the Bamboo Union (竹聯幫) gang, but police yesterday could not verify the information.
Chang was arrested last year for endangering public safety and other offenses, when he jumped on cars stopped at a major thoroughfare in Taichung and ripped off windshield wipers.
During questioning, Chang allegedly said he meant no harm by the messages and that he was just having fun, but prosecutors said they will seek charges on counts of intimidation and endangering public safety.
Chang’s family said he began exhibiting mental health issues 12 years ago with auditory hallucinations and other psychotic issues, for which he had undergone treatment.
Chang was released on Friday after questioning under the guardianship of his family.
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