The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday said it was investigating Internet personality Holger Chen (陳之漢) after he allegedly called for the decapitation of President William Lai (賴清德) during a live stream on Sunday.
The bureau said in a statement that it was investigating comments by a “social media influencer” that might constitute incitement to commit a crime and threatening bodily harm under the Criminal Code.
The CIB added that it had begun gathering evidence related to Chen’s remarks and asked the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office to summon him for questioning.
Photo: Screen grab from Holger Chen’s YouTube channel
Chen — a former gang member turned fitness celebrity and businessman who is better known as Kuan Chang (館長) — allegedly made the comments during a live stream focused on Taiwanese politics and cross-strait issues, the bureau said.
Referring to the use of military “decapitation strikes,” Chen, apparently addressing China, allegedly called for it to “chop off the head of William Lai,” before going on to say: “I am waiting, brothers, I think about it day and night.”
Although Taiwan has ample free-speech protections, those freedoms are not limitless, the CIB said.
“The exercise of freedom of speech must be based on respecting the rights of others, and must not incite violence or endanger public safety,” it said.
Chen, 46, was previously a vocal supporter of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government, but has since become an avid backer of the Taiwan People’s Party and its founder, Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), as well as a frequent critic of the DPP.
The gym entrepreneur turned Internet influencer also made a high-profile trip to Shanghai in June, during which he praised China to his mostly Taiwanese viewership, drawing the ire of many in the DPP.
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