Ten people were arrested yesterday for allegedly scalping tickets to a Double Ten National Day gala at the Taipei Dome, Taipei police said.
Singer Jody Chiang’s (江蕙) return to the stage for the gala on Saturday at 6pm generated significant public interest, while all 5,000 free tickets were snapped up in 15 minutes scalpers offered them for sale online for up to NT$10,000.
The 10 are to be prosecuted according to the Social Order Maintenance Act’s (社會秩序維護法) Article 64, Paragraph 2, which bans buying tickets for the purpose of reselling.
Photo courtesy of the Taipei City Government
Taipei City Councilor Tseng Hsien-ying (曾獻瑩) called on the municipality to broaden a crackdown on the resellers.
Ticket holders should arrive at the Taipei Dome before 6pm and bring proper ID due to security controls around the venue, Tseng said.
The gala opens at 4pm, with strict security measures from 6pm to 6:40pm to ensure the safety of special guests, who might include the president and foreign dignitaries, he said.
Older attendees should be aware of the steep steps at the venue and lack of handrails on some stairs, he added.
There would be security checkpoints, as well as staff to assist with crowd control and ensure a smooth evening, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said.
In related news, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said that the gala is expected to proceed as planned, despite heavy rain forecast from Typhoon Krathon.
The city government is in close communication with the event’s organizers, and it would keep monitoring the storm and adjust its plans as needed, Chiang said.
The storm is expected to gradually weaken over the next few days, including on Saturday, he said.
The Taipei Department of Sports has urged Farglory Group (遠雄集團), the Taipei Dome’s constructor and operator, to repair leaks by Friday as per a prior agreement, Chiang added.
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