Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers yesterday urged prosecutors to impose a travel ban on former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) ahead of his planned trips to Malaysia and the US next month, amid reports that the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office plans to relaunch investigations into eight criminal cases involving Ma.
A report by Chinese-language Mirror Media said the office plans to summon Ma for questioning in the cases, which include allegedly soliciting former prosecutor-general Huang Shih-ming (黃世銘) to leak sensitive information; allegedly agreeing to waive royalty fees on the use of Taipei Dome property to benefit the Farglory Group and allegedly helping Fubon Bank to generate illegal profits in its merger with Taipei Bank.
DPP legislators Wang Ding-yu (王定宇), Tsai Yi-yu (蔡易餘), Chuang Ruei-hsiung (莊瑞雄) and Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政) called on prosecutors to issue a travel ban, saying it would prevent Ma from absconding and destroying evidence.
Photo: CNA
Wang called on prosecutors to reopen the probe into the alleged leak and the Taipei Dome case, saying that the Special Investigation Division of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office hastily concluded the cases before Ma stepped down in May to ensure his innocence.
The office is planning to question Ma over allegedly instigating Huang to reveal information to former premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) in 2013, but the case was wrongfully merged with another charge against Huang rather than being treated as a separate case, Wang said.
“As the president, Ma enjoyed immunity from prosecution, and investigations involving him were ended prematurely. Ma’s involvement in the leak and the Taipei Dome case are obvious, and the office should reopen those cases so that the public regains trust in the judiciary,” Wang said.
Tsai said the judge’s acceptance of the “reservoir theory,” which Ma used to defend his use of discretionary funds during his tenure as Taipei mayor was an obvious attempt to acquit Ma of embezzlement, adding that the office should act according to its conscience and re-examine those cases.
The Presidential Office, which green-lighted Ma’s planned trips, was solely concerned with the risks to national intelligence, while a potential travel ban would prevent absconding or spoliation of evidence, Tsai said.
In a recent poll, 53 percent of respondents said it was inappropriate for Ma to ask to visit foreign countries in the months after he stepped down, Lo said, adding that Ma should refrain from leaving the nation when he is expecting to face criminal investigation.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
The US Department of State on Monday reaffirmed that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, following US President Donald Trump’s use of the term “unification” while commenting on recent trade talks with China. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, Trump described what he viewed as progress in trade negotiations with China held in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend. “They’ve agreed to open China — fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China. I think it’s going to be fantastic for us,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace.” Trump’s use of the
RSS