Taipei prosecutors yesterday denied reports that a former Taiwan High Court judge convicted of corruption had disappeared and said they had him under surveillance to make sure he did not flee the country before serving a prison term.
Former Taiwan High Court judge Lo Chi-hsiung (羅紀雄) was indicted for corruption in 1994 for receiving NT$1 million (US$30,000) from a defendant in his court. After a long legal process, Lo on Aug. 26 received a final sentence of 11 years in prison.
Prosecutors ordered Lo to present himself to begin his prison term on Sept. 17.
Prosecutors yesterday denied reports by media that agents of the Ministry of Justice’s Investigation Bureau had lost track of Lo since Thursday.
Lo on Saturday made a phone call to prosecutors and reported to them, prosecutors said, adding that they had the situation under control and that they knew his whereabouts.
Lo allegedly told prosecutors that he found it “bothersome” to have agents follow him closely whenever he left home.
Prosecutors have a long history of being concerned about criminals fleeing abroad, often to China.
Chang Ping-lung (張炳龍), another former Taiwan High Court judge who was given a 12 year prison sentence for taking bribes, fled the country months ago before the final verdict in his case could be delivered.
Other white collar criminals who fled the country before beginning their jail term or receiving a final verdict include former Rebar president Wang You-theng (王又曾), former Tuntex Group chairman Chen Yu-hao (陳由豪) and former An Feng Group (安峰集團) president Chu An-hsiung (朱安雄).
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended an open invitation to Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled concert in Shanghai. Hamasaki, 47, had been slated to perform on Saturday before organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing “force majeure,” a move widely viewed as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday said the city “very much welcomes” Hamasaki’s return and would continue to “surprise” her. Hamasaki, who has a large global fan base, including
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
Starting next month, people who signed up for the TPass 2.0 program can receive a 15 percent rebate for trips on mid to long-distance freeway buses or on buses headed to the east coast twice every month, the Highway Bureau said. Bureau Director-General Lin Fu-shan (林福山) said the government started TPass 2.0 to offer rebates to frequent riders of public transportation, or people who use city buses, highway buses, trains or MRTs at least 11 times per month. As of Nov. 12, 265,000 people have registered for TPass 2.0, and about 16.56 million trips between February and September qualified for
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