Focus Taiwan
Date: 02/10/2020
By: Huang Li-yun and Joseph Yeh

Taipei, Feb. 10 (CNA) Three female suspects were questioned Sunday on suspicions that they spread a rumor of a toilet paper shortage in Taiwan, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said Monday.

Under questioning, the chief suspect surnamed Liao (廖) admitted she was responsible for starting the rumor, said Hsiao Jui-hao (蕭瑞豪), deputy chief of the CIB's 3rd Investigation Corp., at a press conference.

According to Hsiao, Liao said she read reports of the shortage of surgical masks and panic-buying in Taiwan amid fears of the spread of the coronavirus epidemic and was convinced that all products made of paper, including toilet paper, would eventually be in short supply.

The 60-year-old Liao, who works for a Kaohsiung-based direct sales company, therefore decided to urge her acquaintances via the Line messaging service to buy more toilet paper, sanitary napkins and kitchen towels from her company, according to Hsiao.    [FULL  STORY]