Taipei County Government yesterday filed a lawsuit against the Chinese-language China Times Weekly magazine over an article that said county Commissioner Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋) intended to spend NT$200 million (US$6.5 million) in public funds remodeling his official residence. It is seeking NT$200 million in compensation.
At a press conference, the county government’s Information Office Director-General Hsieh Hsiu-chi (謝秀棋) dismissed the magazine’s story.
Hsieh said the county government had previously proposed the reconstruction of a building at the original location of the residence in cooperation with the private sector.
The county government would acquire certain parts of the building after construction was complete, according to the plan.
However, the plan had not been finalized.
Hsieh said Chou did not move into the 40-year-old residence after he assumed office because Chou wanted to prevent the county government from having to spend several tens of thousands of dollars renovating the residence every year.
“He didn’t understand why the magazine made the allegation. He was very angry,” she said.
The county government will donate the compensation to charity groups in the county if it wins the lawsuit, Hsieh said.
During a question-and-answer session, Chou told Taipei County Councilor Chen Ming-yi (陳明義) that he despised the magazine for insulting him.
Chou said he never wanted to rebuild his residence at the cost of NT$200 million.
He said the Taipei County Council would not have agreed as it was in financial difficulties.
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