US prosecutors yesterday said one of the four reasons why they should continue the pretrial detention of Taiwanese diplomat Jacqueline Liu (劉姍姍), who has been charged with labor fraud involving a Filipino housekeeper, was the risk she poses to the victim and any other witnesses who have provided statements against her.
Liu, director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Kansas City, Missouri, faces charges of forcing her Philippine maid to work excessively long hours, paying her less than promised, keeping her in virtual isolation and taking her passport.
In the court document presented to the detention hearing held on Wednesday, prosecutors, who earlier filed an affidavit with the court that contained testimonies given by three TECO officials that corroborated the allegations, said: “The weight [of evidence] against the defendant is extremely strong.”
Photo: CNA
“The government has numerous cooperating witnesses and documentation which demonstrates the defendant’s fraudulent fraud,” the document said.
Prosecutors said the case involved the potential for threats against the victim and witnesses.
“The female victim had to escape from the confines of the defendant. The defendant took steps to have her located and then deported,” the document said.
“The offense involved threats, fraud and coercion against the victim. The defendant treated her prior domestic servant similarly and she had to also endure physical abuse. The employees at the TECO are also afraid of the defendant,” it said.
Prosecutors said the case also involves a serious risk that Liu would leave the country.
“The defendant, while not aware of the extent of the investigation or the subject matter of the investigation, once aware of the possibility of a federal investigation made reservations to depart from the US immediately,” prosecutors said.
At the hearing, Liu waived her rights to bail and she was ordered to return into custody. She has been detained since her arrest.
Liu’s attorney James Wirkin has entered negotiations with prosecutors over a plea bargain agreement. Her case is scheduled to go to a grand jury in 30 days if a plea is not accepted.
If convicted, Liu faces up to five years in prison, a US$250,000 fine, three years supervised release, plus a US$100 special assessment and order of restitution, local media reported.
Four factors led to the declaration of a typhoon day and the cancelation of classes yesterday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said. Work and classes were canceled across Taiwan yesterday as Typhoon Krathon was forecast to make landfall in the southern part of the country. However, northern Taiwan had only heavy winds during the day and rain in the evening, leading some to criticize the cancelation. Speaking at a Taipei City Council meeting yesterday, Chiang said the decision was made due to the possibility of landslides and other problems in mountainous areas, the need to avoid a potentially dangerous commute for those
Typhoon Krathon, a military airshow and rehearsals for Double Ten National Day celebrations might disrupt flights at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in the first 10 days of next month, the airport’s operator said yesterday. Taoyuan International Airport Corp said in a statement that it has established a response center after the Central Weather Administration issued a sea warning for Krathon, and urged passengers to remain alert to the possibility of disruptions caused by the storm in the coming days. Flight schedules might also change while the air force conducts rehearsals and holds a final airshow for Double Ten National Day, it added. Although
SEMICONDUCTORS: TSMC is able to produce 2-nanometer chips and mass production is expected to be launched by next year, the company said In leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing China is behind Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) by at least 10 years as the Taiwanese chipmaker’s manufacturing process has progressed to 2 nanometers, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Minister Wu Cheng-wen (吳誠文) said yesterday. Wu made the remarks during a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Education and Culture Committee when asked by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) about a report published in August by the Chinese version of Nikkei Asia that said Taiwan’s lead over China in chip manufacturing was only three years. She asked Wu Cheng-wen if the report was an accurate
PRO-CHINA SLOGANS: Two DPP members criticized police officers’ lack of action at the scene, saying that law enforcement authorities should investigate the incident Chinese tourists allegedly interrupted a protest in Taipei on Tuesday held by Hong Kongers, knocked down several flags and shouted: “Taiwan and Hong Kong belong to China.” Hong Kong democracy activists were holding a demonstration as Tuesday was China’s National Day. A video posted online by civic group Hong Kong Outlanders shows a couple, who are allegedly Chinese, during the demonstration. “Today is China’s National Day, and I won’t allow the displaying of these flags,” the male yells in the video before pushing some demonstrators and knocking down a few flagpoles. Radio Free Asia reported that some of the demonstrators