Taiwan indicts five over alleged plot to injure comedian Huang Yi-hao

Five men were indicted in Taiwan on October 21 over an alleged plot to injure comedian Huang Yi-hao in a staged car crash and prevent him from performing. Prosecutors in New Taipei said a man in mainland China, identified only as “K,” had promised NT$450,000 for the attack.

The charges include attempted serious injury and illegally collecting and using personal data. K wanted Huang hospitalized before a September 20 show at Comedy Club because he had mocked Xi Jinping and criticized the Chinese Communist Party, prosecutors said, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.

A defendant surnamed Cheng allegedly put a GPS tracker on Huang’s scooter between July and August and gathered information about his home, license plate and the places he regularly visited. Prosecutors said Cheng received NT$250,000 after passing the information to K. He then planned the collision with a man surnamed You. Another defendant, also surnamed Huang, recruited two men surnamed Fan and Liao to help carry it out.

On September 11, the three waited near the comedian’s home. Fan alerted the driver when the comedian returned, while Liao filmed from the front passenger seat to provide proof of the attack and secure payment, prosecutors said. The driver stopped when he heard the comedian scream. Huang suffered bruising to the right side of his pelvis.

Members of the group later offered to help Huang with an insurance claim, obtained his medical certificate and sent it to K, prosecutors said. K refused to pay the remaining NT$200,000 because he considered the injuries too minor.

Prosecutors allege the men intended to seriously injure Huang’s arms and legs. Article 278 of Taiwan’s Criminal Code also punishes attempts to cause serious injury, even when the intended harm does not occur.

Cheng also faces a charge of secretly recording Huang’s private activities with an electronic device, according to TaiSounds’ account of the indictment. Prosecutors are seeking prison terms of at least five years and six months for Cheng, five years for You, four years for the driver, three years and six months for Fan, and two years and seven months for Liao. The charges have yet to be decided in court.

Police had also referred the case to prosecutors for possible charges under Taiwan’s Anti-Infiltration Act. Article 6 increases penalties for certain crimes directed or funded by sources defined in the law, including governments and political parties of hostile external forces. Causing serious injury is not one of the offenses listed. Prosecutors called for amendments, saying the law did not fully cover the surveillance and violence alleged in this case.

Prosecutors said they suspected the Chinese Communist Party had used the attack to silence political dissent in Taiwan. They told Focus Taiwan, CNA’s English-language service, that K’s background was still under investigation and gave no further details about his identity.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council condemned the alleged attack on October 21 and pledged to pursue those recruited to carry out such acts.

Huang told reporters that day that he feared for his family and friends but would keep performing. He did not want those responsible to believe violence could stop his shows, Taiwan Television reported.