A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker who accused Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Sun Ta-chien (孫大千) told a press conference that DPP Legislator Kuan Bi-ling (管碧玲) had spent half of her special allowance fund, totaling NT$1.8 million (US$54,644), in paying back debts when she served as director of the Information Department and director of Cultural Affairs for Kaohsiung City Government.
"When Kuan held those positions, half of her allowance was wired directly into her personal account, in the same way as Ma. We ask Kuan to explain how she used the money," Sun said.
Tainan City Councilor Hsieh Lung-chieh (謝龍介), a KMT member, said that Kuan's husband Hsu Yang-ming (許陽明) was also doing the same with his special allowance fund when he was Tainan deputy mayor.
Hsieh also accused Hsu of occupying a room in a dormitory, which the city government operates as a profit-making residence, without paying rent while he served in the city government.
In response, Kuan said that Sun's charges were insulting to her.
She admitted that half of her special allowance was wired into her personal account, but said that was how the Kaohsiung City Government dealt with allowances and that she spent all of the money on official expenditure.
"There are no problems with my special allowance. I'm clean," she said, but did not present further details to prove that she had spent the money on official expenditure.
DPP Legislator Hsu Kuo-yung (
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS