TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Investigators questioned two suspects on Wednesday for spreading rumors about Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim’s (蕭美琴) speech at the European Parliament last week.

In online posts, the pair claimed “the French service of the BBC” reported that Taiwan had donated 8 billion euros (NT$287.59 billion, US$9.25 billion) to have Hsiao address the annual meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China last Friday. The Presidential Office denied the rumors and reported the case to the police.

One of the suspects, named Chen (陳), 41, was stopped at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport as he arrived on a flight from Japan, per Liberty Times. He told reporters he had simply reposted a story because he thought it was ridiculous, especially the reference to the French service of the BBC. Chen denied he had broken any laws by reposting a Threads item many others had reposted before him.

Another suspect, named Lu (盧), 53, reported to police in Taipei Tuesday. He admitted having downloaded an online photo from Hsiao’s speech in Brussels and added his own captions, though his motives for doing so were not clear, the Liberty Times reported.

Both suspects could face punishment for breaking the Social Order Maintenance Act, per CNA. The Criminal Investigation Bureau called on the public not to spread unfounded rumors and to check the veracity of reports before reposting them.