Minister of Transportation and Communications Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday denied that he had lent former New Power Party (NPP) chairman Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明) NT$3 million (US$101,557) to cover NPP expenditure.
A front-page story published by the Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday said that officers from the Investigation Bureau found NT$3 million in cash in a safe when they searched Hsu’s home earlier this month.
Hsu, who is out on bail of NT$800,000, had told prosecutors that the money was loaned to him by a current government official who was a senior classmate of his at his alma mater, the report said.
Photo: Tsai Cheng-min, Taipei Times
Hsu reportedly indicated in a deposition that he met with the official and Taiwan Optical Platform (TOP) chairwoman Liao Tzu-chen (廖紫岑) at a five-star hotel at the end of last year.
After Liao left the meeting, the official then took the money out and gave it to him, the report said.
Aside from verifying Hsu’s statement, prosecutors have also begun to explore Liao’s role in the case, as she might have been soliciting support from Hsu, who was a legislator at the time, to have one of TOP’s local TV channels converted into a news channel, the report said.
Political talk show host Clara Chou (周玉蔻) said in an interview with Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) yesterday morning that she was convinced Hsu had borrowed money from Lin, as both went to Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School and National Taiwan University.
She said that Lin should hold a news conference to clarify if there is any misunderstanding.
In response, the minister’s office issued a statement dismissing the report, saying that the allegations against him were based on false rumors and speculation.
“Minister Lin is not familiar with the case, which is now under investigation. Prosecutors are responsible for explaining and clarifying all the details. People who are not involved in the case should not exaggerate and speculate on the details, or they could face legal consequences,” the office said.
Tsai said that the matter needs to be investigated, but loaning money to someone is not illegal.
Lin should defend himself if it is not true, Tsai said, adding that he believes that Lin can stand the test of the judicial system.
On March 4, the National Communications Commission approved TOP’s application to turn one of its local TV channels into a news channel.
However, the commission overturned its decision seven days later, saying that it needed more time to deliberate on the matter, as it involved a new news channel.
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) said a magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck off the coast of eastern Taiwan yesterday was an independent event and part of a stress-adjustment process. The earthquake occurred at 4:47pm, with its epicenter at sea about 45.4km south of Yilan County Hall at a depth of 5.9km, the CWA said. The quake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in several townships in Yilan and neighboring Hualien County, where it measured 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the CWA said. Lin Po-yu (林柏佑), a division chief at the CWA's Seismological Center, told a news conference
RSS