TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The captain of a freighter crewed by Chinese nationals denied Thursday his vessel had damaged a submarine communications cable between Taiwan proper and Penghu.
The Togo-flagged Hong Tai is suspected of severing the Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 submarine cable on Tuesday. The Tainan District Prosecutors Office has requested the detention of the vessel’s Chinese captain, surnamed Wang (王), per CNA.
The Tainan District Court said Thursday that following confessions, witness testimonies, and supporting evidence, Wang is suspected of breaching the Telecommunications Management Act. The court suspected his involvement in the crime was significant.
The court said that Wang is a Chinese national with no fixed residence in Taiwan, and if released on bail, there is a risk of him fleeing. The investigation has yet to clarify Wang’s role and the extent of his involvement alongside other accomplices.
If released on bail, the court said Wang might contact his accomplices, posing a risk of collusion with co-conspirators and witnesses. The court determined that Wang’s actions led to the disruption of inter-island communications.
This disruption could potentially lead to public hazards, said the court. Given the severity of the crime, the court ruled to remand him in custody and hold him incommunicado.
The Hong Tai is anchored 11 km (6 NM) northwest of Tainan's Jiangjun Fishing Harbor, about 0.9 km (0.5 NM) north of the Taiwan-Penghu No. 3 submarine cable.
At around 3 am. on Tuesday, Chunghwa Telecom reported the cable had broken 11 km northwest of Jiangjun Fishing Harbor. The Coast Guard discovered the Hong Tai had dropped anchor and remained in place.
After receiving the report of the cable break, a Coast Guard vessel intercepted the Hong Tai and escorted it to Anping Port. The Coast Guard then handed over all eight Chinese crew members to Tainan prosecutors for investigation.
Following questioning Wednesday, the Tainan District Prosecutors Office requested the detention of Wang. The other seven crew members were placed under residential restrictions, barred from leaving the country, and subjected to electronic monitoring.
