A Taichung egg farm operator was yesterday detained by prosecutors and held incommunicado on suspicion of illegally disposing of chickens that died following an avian influenza outbreak.
The Taichung District Court approved the detention, finding that the farmer, surnamed Yun (雲), operator of Fengkang Egg Ranch in the city’s Fongyuan District (豐原), met the legal grounds and necessity for custody.
Another suspect, surnamed Yen (顏), who owns land in Miaoli County where some of the dead chickens were allegedly buried, was released on NT$200,000 bail and barred from changing residence, the court said.
Photo courtesy of the Taichung City Government
Chickens at the farm began showing symptoms of avian influenza on Jan. 10, with large numbers dying between Jan. 10 and Monday last week, the Taichung City Government said.
Yun tried to conceal the outbreak by burying some of the dead chickens at his residence, and transporting others to Miaoli County for dumping and burial, investigators said.
Prosecutors searched the farm and Yun’s residence, and questioned Yun, two employees and Yen.
After a second round of questioning late on Monday, prosecutors said Yun is suspected of contravening the Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法) by illegally dumping hazardous business waste, failing to properly dispose of waste as a business operator, and committing fraud.
Yen is suspected of illegally allowing hazardous waste to be dumped and buried on his land without approval from authorities, prosecutors said.
The city government said the outbreak has been contained, with no evidence that it has spread to other farms, after all chickens at the affected site were culled, and large quantities of eggs, feed and bedding materials were destroyed.
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