Court acquits man convicted of matricide‘IMITATION EFFECT’: The minister of justice said the ruling could lead to more people claiming they were under the influence of drugs at the time of a crimeBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterThe High Court yesterday acquitted a man who was convicted of decapitating his mother in Taoyuan in 2018, reversing an earlier life sentence and sparking criticism. Liang Tsung-ming, left, is escorted by police at the High Court in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei TimesThe Taiwan High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said it would appeal the High Court’s ruling. “This High Court decision does not reflect the public’s understanding [of the law] and expectations... I think many people would have trouble accepting this ruling,” Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said.

People questioned in Pharmally probeBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterThe Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office yesterday summoned 14 people for questioning amid a probe into alleged securities fraud at Pharmally International Holding Co, while an international warrant was issued for Pharmally chairman Tony Huang (黃文烈), who reportedly is in Singapore. Four banks — Entie Commercial Bank, Far Eastern International Bank, Hua Nan Bank and Bank SinoPac — face non-performing loans after lending to Pharmally, investigators said. A group of three businesspeople, headed by Tsai Shui-ping (蔡水濱), who are involved in real estate and construction in central Taiwan invested heavily in Pharmally face combined losses of NT$2.2 billion, investigators said. Prosecutors said that employees of accounting firm Deloitte & Touche Taiwan allegedly colluded for several years with Pharmally executives to forge reports and financial statements. In the first round of raids on Monday, Shih Ching-pin (施景彬) and Chiang Ming-nan (江明南), two accountants at Deloitte & Touche Taiwan, were questioned.

Programs and movies provided by Chinese streaming service iQiyi are displayed on the Taiwan version of the service’s Web site on Tuesday. “The act was necessary because the cable television service operators have asked that the commission apply across-the-board standards to regulate all audiovisual service platforms, which should include OTT services. It was not stipulated just to address the problems caused by iQiyi and other Chinese OTT operators,” he said. Taiwan has denied iQiyi so-called landing right, as China has also banned Taiwanese OTT operators from landing there, he said. Aside from agents, advertisers and marketing professionals recruited by Chinese OTT operators, the “intermediary services” covered by the list also include those offered by content delivery networks, Internet data providers, and payment and customer service operators, the commission said.

Virus Outbreak: Foreign students to be allowed backNEW SEMESTER: The new policy would affect 232 current students and 2,300 freshmen, who would be allowed into Taiwan in groups of 50 to 100 per dayBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterStarting yesterday, schools at the senior-high school level and under can apply for foreign students, including Chinese, to enter Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said. They include students from China, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as current students and freshmen, he said. Deputy Minister of Education Lio Mon-chi (劉孟奇) said there are 2,532 eligible students who can apply to enter Taiwan, of whom 232 are current students and 2,300 are freshmen. Chen Shih-chung also commented on media reports that a traveler from Taiwan had tested positive in Shanghai and another had tested positive in Vietnam. As 14 days have passed since the three tested positive, the panel deems them not having had a negative impact on Taiwan’s disease situation, he added.

Control Yuan member slams KoBy Kuo An-chia and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerControl Yuan member Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday accused Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) of political manipulation following a media report of Ko alleging that Chen was involved in a city construction project scandal. The report, quoting a Taipei city councilor that requested anonymity, said that the move was Ko’s attempt to embarrass President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the DPP chairperson. Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, center, steps out of a vehicle in Taipei yesterday. Responding to criticism from Chen that he had resorted to political manipulation, Ko said that the case was brought to his attention by DPP Taipei City Councilor Chien Shu-pei (簡舒培) in November last year. “If there were concerns about Chen before, why did Ko not object to the DPP nominating him as a Control Yuan member earlier this year,” she asked.

Tainan councilors still demanding apology from SuBy Lin Liang-sheng and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerTainan city councilors of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday demanded that Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) apologize to the public for “obstructing free speech” after he ordered prosecutors to investigate them over their claim that fake Triple Stimulus Coupons were circulating the city. From right, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Yi-hua and Tainan City councilors Wang Chia-chen and Lee Chung-tsen hold a news conference in Taipei yesterday to accuse the government of suppressing free speech. This was a violation of their free speech rights, they said. Su added insult to injury by brushing off concerns about the fake vouchers, she said, adding that Su should publicly apologize. “Unless the councilors made the fake coupons themselves, in what way did they cause a social disturbance?” KMT caucus whip Lin Wei-chou (林為洲) asked.

Yulon to spend NT$12.7bn on its vehicle research unitBy Lisa Wang / Staff reporterYulon Motor Co (裕隆汽車) yesterday said that it is to invest NT$12.7 billion (US$430.39 million) in its Hua-chuang Automobile Information Technical Center (華創車電) research unit after it in May cut the unit’s share capital by 99.9 percent, or NT$3.28 billion. Yulon Motor Co spokesman and vice president Steven Lo, left, and vice president Lee Chien-hui pose for a photograph at the company’s investors’ conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Amy Yang, Taipei TimesThe new company “is to be set up in the fourth quarter,” Yulon vice president Lee Chien-hui (李建輝) told an investors’ conference. That translated into earnings per share of NT$0.5, compared with losses per share of NT$0.93 a year earlier. Revenue shrank 9 percent year-on-year to NT$37.37 billion from NT$41 billion, as car sales fell by 3,800 units.

Workers need more breaks on hot days, NPP legislator saysBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporterNew Power Party (NPP) Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) yesterday asked the Ministry of Labor to set new rules to better protect workers from heat-related injuries, including rules for breaks on high-temperature days. New Power Party Legislator Chiu Hsien-chih holds a chart at a news conference in Taipei yesterday as he called on the Ministry of Labor to give workers better protection from heat-related injuries. The current rules on labor management in high-temperature environments focus on indoor environments, such as factories, Chiu said, adding that the rules should be revised. The labor ministry should also consider whether outdoor workers deserve more compensation, as they face greater health risks, he said. “Heat and humidity impedes workers’ reaction times.

Coalition urges funding for Lee libraryTAIWANESE IDENTITY: A presidential library and museum would preserve Lee’s legacy and contributions in Taiwan’s transition into a democracy, groups saidBy Jason Pan / Staff reporterLeaders of pro-Taiwan civic organizations and independence advocates yesterday called for government funding to establish a Lee Teng-hui presidential library and museum, saying that it would be the best way to commemorate the former president’s achievements and preserve his legacy. Representatives of pro-Taiwan organizations at the National Taiwan University Alumni Center in Taipei yesterday call for government assistance in establishing the proposed Lee Teng-hui presidential library and museum. “It is also the wish of [former] president Lee. The project would require state funding and the power of the government to see through its completion, Taiwan Society chairman Li Chuan-hsin (李川信) said. “Lee is recognized around the world as Mr Democracy, and our society recognizes him as the first president for Taiwanese people.

KMT Legislator Chen Yu-jen accuses MND of blocking trip to Pratas IslandsBy Aaron Tu and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNAA Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmaker yesterday accused the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of blocking a planned trip by lawmakers to the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands, 東沙群島), but a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker said that the fault lay with the trip’s organizer. Chen yesterday accused the ministry of obstructing the trip by exploiting a technicality. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Yu-jen in Taipei yesterday accuses the Ministry of National Defense of blocking a planned trip by lawmakers to the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands) in the South China Sea. DPP Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) disputed Chen’s timeframe claims, writing on Facebook that she had not submitted her request to the ministry until Tuesday. He had asked the ministry about Chen’s trip request and was told that the air force had only received the request on Tuesday, so it had to decline the visit due to insufficient preparation time, Wang said.

Such rush orders would come to an end later this quarter, making the fourth quarter — normally the high sales season — a tough challenge, he said, adding that the global economy is still in a shambles. Major tech firms have declined to give business guidance beyond the current quarter, citing poor order visibility. Manufacturers of mineral, plastic, base metal and other non-tech products would also continue to struggle due to sluggish demand, Hsu said. The government could do so by lowering the business tax or sparing companies the levy on retained earnings, at least temporarily, Lin said. Most business tycoons painted the plans by the Ministry of Labor to raise monthly basic wages by NT$200 to NT$24,000 as unfavorable, but bearable.

The petrochemical industry reported production value contracted by 54.7 percent year-on-year, while output among automakers and in the automotive parts industry fell 22.1 percent from a year earlier, the ministry said. In the metal manufacturing industry, production value fell 18.7 percent and in the machinery industry it was down 13.8 percent year-on-year, it said. Computer electronics and optoelectronics components posted output growth of 7.6 percent year-on-year, while the electronics components industry grew 10.6 percent, ministry data showed. Industrial production increased 4.7 percent year-on-year, the third quarter of growth and the highest for the quarter on record, the data showed. However, production value is calculated by multiplying production by price, and a slide in prices means that even with increased output, production value is trending down, the ministry said.

Reporter’s Notebook: Some KMT supporters wonder if bell tolls for ChiangBy Shih Hsiao-kuang / Staff reporterFormer vice premier Chen Chi-mai’s (陳其邁) landslide victory on Saturday in the Kaohsiung mayoral by-election shows troubled waters lie ahead for Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang (江啟臣). Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Johnny Chiang speaks at an event in Kaohsiung on Aug. 2. Political watchers think former KMT chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) is interested in regaining the party’s top seat, with an eye on the 2024 presidential election, while Han’s camp has said that he also hopes to run for party chairman next year. Some observers see Chiang’s situation akin to that faced by former KMT chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), who also led the KMT just after a presidential election defeat, and who faced an internal power struggle. Chiang must solidify his internal support before the end of the year, or he could become a lame duck if KMT members begin to see his chances of being re-elected are slim.

KMT caucus whip says Han wave’s time is overBy Lin Liang-sheng / Staff reporterIt is time to say goodbye to the “Han wave,” Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Lin Wei-chou (林為洲) said yesterday, following the party’s defeat in the Kaohsiung mayoral by-election on Saturday. The “Han wave” refers to former Kaohsiung mayor Han Kuo-yu’s (韓國瑜) sudden rise in popularity during the 2018 nine-in-one elections. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times“Treat it [the Han wave] as a legend,” Lin wrote, adding that the KMT should make changes and work hard to regain the public’s trust. The “Han wave” had been the KMT mainstream, but that was no longer the case, he said. The KMT could not even hold on to its base, proof that the “Han wave” could no longer be seen as the KMT’s “savior,” Lin said.

TPP to review strategy in wake of Saturday’s lossBy Chen Yun / Staff reporterThe Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) plans to hold a review meeting this week following its poor showing in Saturday’s Kaohsiung mayoral by-election, TPP Legislator Tsai Pi-ru (蔡壁如) said yesterday. The TPP candidate, Kaohsiung City Councilor Wu Yi-jheng (吳益政), received 38,960 votes (4.06 percent), or about 100,000 votes fewer than the party votes the TPP won in the Jan. 11 legislative elections. Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, third left, yesterday talks to reporters in Taichung. The TPP would review and reconsider its strategy as it prepares for the 2022 local elections. “For parties that have very few resources, we can only use all we have to do the best we can,” he added.