Lin Yao-wen (林耀文), a top aide to former premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), yesterday denied a media report that he had gambled at a Macau casino earlier this year and had planned a joint casino venture with Chinese businesspeople.
In a press release issued by Hsieh’s office, Lin, who is the office’s director, said that the report published yesterday by the Chinese-language Next Magazine was incorrect and he would file a lawsuit against it.
The report, citing an unidentified China-based Taiwanese businessman, said Lin started work on an investment plan in China after Hsieh’s landmark visit to Beijing in October last year. It also said Lin had lost up to NT$100 million (US$3.3 million) at a plush Macau casino earlier this year before winning it back.
Next Magazine reported that Lin, 37, had told it that the person who tipped off the magazine had not provided any evidence in what appeared to be an obvious attempt to discredit him. Hsieh told the magazine that he had had heard rumors about Lin’s excessive gambling, but had found no evidence to back up the claim.
In the press release, Lin said he had visited Macau for business, but he neither indulged in alleged excessive gambling, nor did he have a plan to open a casino there as the magazine claimed.
Asked about the report yesterday while he was at the Democratic Progressive Party’s headquarters, Hsieh said the claims could only be investigated after the identities of the people involved in the story were disclosed, “otherwise, it seems to me that this is example of infighting between party factions.”
Next Magazine also accused Lin of collaborating with gang members to influence the DPP’s chairmanship election in May next year.
Lin said the accusation was “groundless.”
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