Legislator’s request for travel ban on Ma again rejected by court

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/06/13

Taipei, June 13 (CNA) The Taipei District Court on Monday again rejected a request by ruling Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) to forbid former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) from leaving the country.

Although Ker claimed that Ma might flee the country because most of his family members hold U.S. citizenship and live overseas and that Ma is suspected of holding a U.S. green card, this is merely Ker’s speculation that is not supported by substantive evidence, the court said.

The court also rejected Ker’s argument that the visit Ma had planned to make to Hong Kong on June 15 could have provided him an opportunity to flee the country.

Given that Ma needed to obtain the Presidential Office’s approval before being able to visit Hong Kong and that the travel plan has received extensive media coverage recently, it is hard to jump to the conclusion that Ma might use the opportunity to flee, the court said.     [FULL  STORY]