An American facing charges of groping women in a street in Taipei in January was yesterday placed in detention after he allegedly grabbed the buttocks of a bailiff and a court interpreter ahead of a court hearing.
Joseph Aron, 36, who entered the nation on a tourist visa, was summoned for a hearing at the Shilin District Court on the January accusations that he groped and hugged a woman walking alone on a street, then fondled another woman’s breasts and buttocks.
Passersby had reported the incidents to police.
Aron was handcuffed and escorted to the Datong Police Precinct. His two alleged victims also went to the police station, where they decided to press charges.
Media reports at the time said Aron had been handcuffed because he was violently drunk and yelled a string of expletives at responding officers, including: “Fuck you Japan” and “Fuck you Korea.”
On Monday, Aron allegedly approached a woman at the post office inside the Shilin District Court building and whispered into her ear that he wanted to get to know her better.
The woman ran to the bailiffs stationed near the courthouse entrance, followed by Aron.
He then allegedly patted the bottom of the female bailiff before running up to the second floor, where he slapped a court interpreter on her buttocks.
More bailiffs arrived and detained Aron before transporting him to the Shilin Police Precinct for questioning.
Police said Aron had apparently been drinking, adding that he would face additional sexual harassment charges.
The bail court judge granted his release on NT$30,000 bail, but Aron said he had no money.
He then asked the court to return the NT$20,000 bail he had posted in January.
Since he could not pay the new bail, the court ordered him held in detention.
A court official who witnessed Aron’s alleged courthouse assaults was quoted by Chinese-language media as saying: “It was outrageous behavior. He was acting despicable.”
“It seemed like he did not care for our justice system,” the official said.
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
RSS