Taiwanese fraud suspects deported from Malaysia to be prosecuted on the mainland

A total of 32 Taiwanese telecom fraud suspects deported from Malaysia in April will be investigated and may face prosecution on the mainland, said the Ministry of Public Security here Friday.

The mainland will maintain communication with the Taiwan side and deal with the case under the principles of curbing the crimes, protecting the interests of victims and upholding justice, said Chen Shiqu, a senior police officer with the ministry, at a meeting with a delegation of judicial officials from Taiwan.

The two sides have met to discuss joint fights against telecom frauds from Thursday to Saturday in the southern city of Zhuhai.

The mainland hoped Taiwan can try its best to help retrieve scammed money so that the mainland victims can have their money back, Chen said.

The Taiwanese suspects are held at two detention centers in Zhuhai after being deported from Malaysia together with 65 mainland suspects.

"So far 15 of them have asked for legal assistance and five wanted to hire lawyers through their families. The rest are still weighing their options," said Li Hongping, deputy chief of Zhuhai police.

Most of them are in good health, except a few having skin infection and two showing symptoms of unstable blood pressure, which, however, is under control after proper treatment, according to the detention centers.

Only one who has suffered hernia for eight years have been hospitalized but in stable conditions.

The Taiwan delegation members were provided details of Taiwanese suspects' life at the centers through on-the-spot inspections and discussions with workers at the centers.

Chen Wen-chi, who leads the Taiwan delegation, appreciated the effort the detention centers made to protect legal rights of these suspects.

The Straits Exchange Foundation will keep in touch with their families and take care of legal assistance and other matters, Chen said. Endi