TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Kaohsiung authorities detained Sunday (Sept. 14) Shih Li-chun (石麗君), a former assistant to independent city councilor Hsin-Chiang Chu (朱信強), on charges of violating the Waste Disposal Act (廢棄物清理法). Police simultaneously apprehended her husband, surnamed Wu (巫), and a tenant surnamed Wang (王) for their alleged involvement in illegal waste disposal operations. The arrests mark a significant escalation in the city's crackdown on unauthorized excavation activities.
Authorities confirmed Shih as a landowner implicated in the illegal excavation activities plaguing the area. The Kaohsiung City Government imposed a NT$3 million (around US$99,000) fine on her for her role in these unauthorized operations. The Kaohsiung City Government stated that Shih engaged in a sophisticated new form of gravel theft scheme. Illegal excavation and dumping operations commenced shortly after her land purchases, authorities revealed. Officials have transferred comprehensive evidence of her unlawful activities to the Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office (橋頭地檢署) for thorough investigation and potential prosecution.
The case centers on an illegal excavation site located in the Hsin Chi-yang (新吉洋) section of Meinong District. City officials and investigators conducted a comprehensive joint crackdown last month, transferring the case for prosecution under the Waste Disposal Act. Authorities have successfully detained all alleged perpetrators involved in the unauthorized excavation scheme. Opposition Kuomintang (國民黨) legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) recently inspected the controversial "Meinong Grand Canyon" project site in the city's Meinong District (美濃).
The Kaohsiung City Government imposed Wednesday (Sept. 11) additional fines totaling NT$11.3 million (around US$373,000) under the Waste Disposal Act, Sand and Gravel Excavation Act (土石採取法), and Regional Plan Act (區預計畫法). The total fines in this complex case now amount to NT$14.3 million (around US$472,000), reflecting the severity of the environmental violations. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$30.300)