The Taipei District Court yesterday approved a request by prosecutors to extend the detention of two former staffers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suspected of engaging in espionage for China.
The two detainees, Chiu Shih-yuan (邱世元) and Huang Chu-jung (黃取榮), had been held in custody since mid-February after being summoned by Taipei District Prosecutors Office for questioning, with their detention period due to expire tomorrow.
Citing strong suspicion of serious crimes and concerns over potential collusion or destruction of evidence, prosecutors sought an extension of Chiu and Huang's detention. The court held a hearing yesterday afternoon and approved the request.
Photo: CNA
The two are to have their detention extended for another two months starting Sunday and remain being held incommunicado during the period.
Chiu, former deputy head of the DPP's Taiwan Institute of Democracy, and Huang, a former assistant to DPP New Taipei Councilor Lee Yu-tien (李余典), are among several individuals suspected of spying for Chinese intelligence services while working for senior officials in the DPP government, which has been in power since 2016.
Other suspects in the case include Wu Shang-yu (吳尚雨), who worked as an adviser in the office of President William Lai (賴清德), and Ho Jen-chieh (何仁傑), former assistant to the Secretary-General of the National Security Council Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) during his tenure as Taiwan's Foreign Minister.
According to the prosecutors, Huang was likely recruited by Beijing's intelligence services when doing business in China and after returning to Taiwan, started working with Ho, Wu Shang-yu and Chiu to gather confidential information about Lai and other top officials.
After providing such information to the Chinese intelligence services through Huang, Ho, Wu and Chiu received tens of thousands of Taiwan dollars in return, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors claimed the probe into the case was expanded after they traced money flows between Huang and the others in February. Huang, Wu and Chiu were detained in February following questioning, with Ho added to the list last week.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS