Is the Prosecution Applying Double Standards? Zhonglian Oils Case Saw Delayed Appeal – Chen Huiwen Mocks: 'Swift as a Magic Spell' for Ko Wen-je

Democratic Progressive Party spokesperson Wu Zheng clashed with veteran media commentator Huang Yang-ming on the online program 'Netizen University' on the 16th over the Zhonglian Oils carcinogenic oil incident. Wu stated, 'I didn’t force you to eat it, so why are you yelling at me? If there’s a problem now, let’s deal with it.' In response, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an called on the public on the 17th to protest on Ketagalan Boulevard on the 25th. Veteran media commentator Chen Huiwen commented on the issue on his program 'Straight Talk News' on the 17th.

Chen first questioned whether Chiang Wan-an was 'holding the party headquarters hostage,' asking if organizing protests was part of a mayor’s duties. He mocked, 'What does Chiang think of party chairperson Cheng Li-chen and Legislative Yuan caucus leader Fu Kun-chi?' Chen also cited Taipei City Councilor Miao Po-ya, who accused Chiang, as convener of the city’s Food Safety Committee, of missing 11 out of 15 meetings. Chen further pointed out that Taichung City’s Health Bureau has not inspected any oil factories this year, concluding that the protest on the 25th is purely political warfare.

Referencing the 2014 'adulterated cooking oil scandal,' Chen noted that the Kuomintang suffered a historic defeat in local elections, leading to a cabinet resignation. He predicted that Premier Cho Jung-tai would also resign after this year’s local elections.

Chen highlighted that Yu Ling-chong, CEO of Zhonglian Oils, was released on bail on the 10th, but the Taichung District Prosecutors Office only succeeded in appealing and revoking his bail on the 16th—several days later. 'The prosecution clearly isn’t proactive,' Chen said. He contrasted this with the 'swift as a magic spell' detention of former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, accusing the prosecutors of double standards.

Chen added that the Zhonglian Oils carcinogenic oil case involves four companies, yet only one person has been detained so far. In contrast, the Jinghuacheng case saw multiple arrests, including Ko Wen-je, Taipei councilor Ying Hsiao-wei, Weijing Group Chairman Shen Ching-ching, and former Taipei Mayor’s Office Director Li Wen-tsung. Chen emphasized that with only one arrest and such a lackluster investigation, the outcome of the Zhonglian Oils case is already predictable.