Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) yesterday urged the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) to take steps to clean up “financial disorder” at financial institutions in the wake of recent allegations of corruption against former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and his family, Executive Yuan Spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) said.
Su told a media conference yesterday that Liu had expressed concern about the subject to FSC Chairman Sean Chen (陳冲), but declined to elaborate on the specifics of what the premier had been referring to or what measures the FSC should adopt to regulate problematic financial institutions.
However, Su did not deny that one of the cases Liu was concerned about was the one involving Yuanta Group chairman Rudy Ma (馬志玲) and his wife, Yuanta Securities Corp (元大證券) chairwoman Judy Tu (杜麗莊), who were indicted last week on suspicion of involvement in share-trading irregularities.
Ma’s sons, Yuanta Financial Holding Co president Victor Ma (馬維建) and Yuanta Financial Holding Co chief operating officer Michael Ma (馬維辰), have been listed as defendants for allegedly helping former first lady Wu Shu-jen (吳淑珍) transfer illegal funds overseas.
Prosecutors also accuse Rudy Ma and Tu of having made illegal gains in excess of NT$670 million (US$20 million) in 2005 from the sale of Yuanta Securities Investment Trust Co and structured notes at prices above market value to Yuanta Securities Corp.
Su yesterday quoted Liu as saying that cases similar to the one involving Yuanta Securities Corp needed to be addressed promptly and properly, as they were of great concern to investors.
In related news, Liu yesterday also held a Cabinet-level meeting on anti-corruption measures.
Kuan Kao-yueh (管高岳), director of the Ministry of Justice’s Department of Government Employee Ethics, told a press conference that the government planned to establish an evaluation system to encourage enterprises to refrain from corrupt activities.
“Incentives given to businesses with excellent performance in this regard might include the right of priority for government contracts and preferential rates for loans,” Kuan said.
Aftershocks from a magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off Yilan County at 3:45pm yesterday could reach a magnitude of 5 to 5.5, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Seismological Center technical officer Chiu Chun-ta (邱俊達) told a news conference that the epicenter of the temblor was more than 100km from Taiwan. Although predicted to measure between magnitude 5 and 5.5, the aftershocks would reach an intensity of 1 on Taiwan’s 7-tier scale, which gauges the actual effect of an earthquake, he said. The earthquake lasted longer in Taipei because the city is in a basin, he said. The quake’s epicenter was about 128.9km east-southeast
The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
BE CAREFUL: The virus rarely causes severe illness or death, but newborns, older people and those with medical conditions are at risk of more severe illness As more than 7,000 cases of chikungunya fever have been reported in China’s Guangdong Province this year, including 2,892 new cases last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday said it is monitoring the situation and considering raising the travel notice level, which might be announced today. The CDC issued a level 1 travel notice, or “watch,” for Guangdong Province on July 22, citing an outbreak in Foshan, a manufacturing hub in the south of the province, that was reported early last month. Between July 27 and Saturday, the province reported 2,892 new cases of chikungunya, reaching a total of 7,716
The New Taipei City Government today warned about the often-overlooked dangers of playing in water, and recommended safe swimming destinations to cool off from the summer heat. The following locations in the city as safe and fun for those looking to enjoy the water: Chienshuiwan (淺水灣), Baishawan (白沙灣), Jhongjiao Bay (中角灣), Fulong Beach Resort (福隆海水浴場) and Sansia District’s (三峽) Dabao River (大豹溪), New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Department Director-General Yang Tsung-min (楊宗珉) said. Outdoor bodies of water have variables outside of human control, such as changing currents, differing elevations and environmental hazards, all of which can lead to accidents, Yang said. Sudden
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