Bangkok Post
Date: 23 Sep 2015
By: WRITER: AFP
TAIPEI – Taiwanese authorities said Wednesday they would prosecute 129 people for
Pigeon racing is extremely popular in Taiwan
illegal gambling on pigeon races — part of a broader investigation into the sport after animal rights group PETA filed complaints.
More than Tw$66.6 million ($2 million) was seized from the Fengyuan Pigeon Club in the central city of Taichung, according to the district prosecutors office.
US-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) submitted the results of its investigation last year to Taiwanese authorities, saying pigeon racing kills 1.5 million birds a year on the island.
“This particular club we found to have gambling offences but we didn’t find there’s a situation of animal abuse,” Hung Jia-yuan, director of Taichung’s prosecutors office, told AFP, adding investigations would continue elsewhere.
The main suspects in the gambling case face a maximum of three years’ imprisonment, while others may be fined. [FULL STORY]
