Taiwan Charges 2 in Writer Liu’s Slaying

TAIPEI, Taiwan —  Justice Ministry investigators Monday filed preliminary murder charges against two reputed gangsters suspected in connection with the killing last October of Chinese language journalist Henry Liu at his Daly City, Calif., home, the government said in a statement.

Liu, 52, a critic of the Taiwan government, was shot to death Oct. 15.

The Government Information Office said in a brief statement that Justice Ministry investigators filed preliminary charges of murder, illegal possession of firearms and violating public order against Chen Chi-li, 39, and Wu Tun, 34, reputed members of Taiwan’s largest underworld organization. The statement said the two men were turned over to prosecutors.

There had been contradictory reports from the information office about whether investigators had filed preliminary charges against the two men. An information office spokesman had said no charges were filed, but the statement said the two had been charged.

The information office also said three Defense Ministry intelligence officials have had their cases referred to military prosecutors to determine whether they were involved in the killing.

The intelligence officials are Vice Adm. Wang Hsi-ling, 57, the intelligence bureau’s director, his deputy, Maj. Gen. Hu Yi-min, and Col. Chen Hu-men, 47, a deputy section chief.

Taiwanese authorities have said that Chen and Wu cannot be extradited to California to stand trial because there is no extradition treaty between Taiwan and the United States.

Chen and Wu were arrested last November in an anti-crime sweep here unrelated to Liu’s slaying.

Under Taiwanese legal procedure, district court prosecutors will conduct their own investigation to determine whether there is a case against Chen and Wu.

If the district court prosecutors decide that there is a case, the two will be tried.

Those convicted of murder in Taiwan can receive the death penalty, carried out by a pistol shot to the back of the head.

The motive for Liu’s killing remains unclear, but his wife, Helen, has claimed that it was politically motivated to silence his criticism of the Taiwan government.