TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) filed slander charges on Wednesday against KMT Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) and Kaohsiung City Councilor Hsu Tsai-chen (許采蓁) over remarks related to an illegal excavation scandal in Kaohsiung’s Meinong District.
Lai accused Ko and Hsu of defamation following comments made during a KMT Kaohsiung City Council caucus press conference on Tuesday, per CNA. The controversy centers on illegal sand and gravel excavation operations that damaged farmland in Meinong and refilled the area with construction waste.
During the press conference, Hsu alleged that Borough Chief Chou Hsiu-yu (周銹玉) is part of Lai’s DPP Kaohsiung City mayoral primary campaign team and is married to a landowner involved in one of the excavated sites, per UDN. Chou responded by clarifying that she divorced the landowner four years ago.
Lai, through his attorney, denied that Chou is part of his campaign team or that he has any connection to the landowner. Chou also filed a separate slander complaint against Hsu on Wednesday, per Tai Sounds.
In response to the legal action, Ko said she was addressing legislative amendments and long-term solutions to the excavation issue, per Newtalk. She emphasized that she did not mention Lai by name during the press conference.
Ko also accused the DPP of using similar tactics against her. She said DPP figures had previously implied her involvement in the scandal because someone connected to the excavation case appeared beside her during a site visit.
Ko argued that while her detractors faced no legal recourse in that instance, Hsu is being sued for making a comparable claim. Hsu welcomed the lawsuit, calling it an attempt by Lai to silence political criticism, per ETtoday.
Meanwhile, the Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office is continuing its investigation into the illegal excavation case. Prosecutors have requested the detention of Lo Chien-chang (羅建昌), a cousin of a late former Meinong mayor, and Hsu Jung-hsing (徐榮興), who allegedly rented some of the excavated land, per Liberty Times.
Authorities believe Lo may have orchestrated operations behind the scenes. Two truck drivers have also been detained as part of the investigation.
