Taiwan Legislator Defends Handling of Chinese Visitor Petitions in Fraud Case

Kuomintang legislator Lin Si-ming has been implicated in the NT$10 billion "Sacred Stone" fraud case, with media reports alleging he helped太子集團 executives invite 18 Chinese nationals to Taiwan. His office issued a statement today defending the actions as lawful constituent service. The office clarified that all Chinese nationals applying to visit Taiwan must undergo independent review by competent authorities, and no legislator can influence such decisions. It emphasized that accepting petitions is a legal duty, not equivalent to intervening in review processes, and that inquiring about case progress or requesting responses does not constitute lobbying or pressure. The statement expressed regret over media reports linking different cases and timeframes, calling them unverified insinuations that damage reputations. Lin's office affirmed willingness to accept judicial scrutiny and social oversight, while reserving legal rights against defamatory reporting.