Police said yesterday they have made a breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of Taipei County councilor Wu Shan-jeou (
The alleged thief, surnamed Hu (胡), was arrested in Banciao (板橋).
Hu, 24, is alleged to have stolen a scooter on Sanmin Road, Banciao, the day before Wu's murder, and then taken the license plate from a second scooter to switch with the plate on the first one.
Footage from security cameras in Banciao the day before the murder showed Hu stealing the scooter and the license plate, police said.
Wu, a member of the People First Party (PFP), was gunned down in his Sindian (
The man who shot Wu was filmed by security cameras in the area as he rode away on a scooter with the license plate "JBE-706."
"According to security camera footage that we've reviewed, the scooter thief and the murderer are not the same person," Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) Director Huang Mao-sui (黃茂穗) said. "That not much evidence was left behind demonstrates that the gunman is a professional."
Police suspect Wu's murder was arranged by gangsters to protect an extortion racket.
Hu is an ex-convict with a history of drug trafficking.
Police believe he gave the stolen scooter to the killer to use as a getaway vehicle.
Hu yesterday denied knowing the murderer or having any connection to Wu's murder.
The police will continue questioning Hu at the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, Huang said.
In other developments, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) received a death threat letter yesterday that contained a single 5.56mm bullet -- ammunition commonly used in assault rifles.
The letter was sent to her legislative office.
Hung was the eighth lawmaker in recent weeks to receive such a bullet in the mail, the Criminal Investigation Bureau said.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Hsieh Hsin-ni (
Bureau authorities reiterated yesterday that they believe the death threats are the work of one person.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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