HK Music Producer Lee Ming Ho Investigated For Rape Of TVB Actress
HONG KONG: Hong Kong police recently revealed that 32-year-old Hong Kong music producer Lee Ming Ho is under investigation for allegedly raping a 23-year-old actress in his Vi-Max Music Studio at Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui on Monday, reported Hong Kong media.
Lee is currently out on bail and has since denied these accusations.
“I really didn’t do it. This whole incident has greatly affected me and my company! I don’t know if she (the young actress who accused him of rape) is out to make a name for herself!” Lee told Hong Kong media on Tuesday.
“I don’t even know why the police will look for me. Rape is a very serious accusation, if it is true, the police will definitely charge me. How is it possible that I am allowed bail!”
The identity of the young actress, who claimed to have been sexually violated while she was drunk at the music studio, is still a mystery, though senior TVB official Virginia Lok, has confirmed on Wednesday that she is an actress with TVB.
“As a woman, she (the alleged victim) immediately went to the police after meeting with such an incident (her alleged rape).
“I am very supportive of her. It is a very brave thing to do,” said Lok, before going on to urge young artistes to share their problems with their colleagues, and not use alcohol as a means of escape.
Lok’s revelation has inadvertently put every single TVB actress aged around 23 under suspicion and sparked renewed speculation over the identity of the alleged victim.
-CNA/ha
Channel News Asia
Homeland Security Should Bar Saverin From US, Suggests Senator
SINGAPORE – Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin has challenged two United States Senators who accused him of avoiding taxes in America by giving up his citizenship, saying that his decision to live in Singapore was purely personal, and adding that he is obligated to and will pay “hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes to the US government”.
In the statement sent to Reuters by his spokesman, Mr Saverin said: “I have paid and will continue to pay any taxes due on everything I earned while a US citizen. It is unfortunate that my personal choice has led to a public debate, based not on the facts, but entirely on speculation and misinformation.”
Mr Saverin said his decision to renounce his US citizenship and relocate to Singapore was “based solely on my interest in working and living in Singapore, where I have been since 2009″.
The Brazil-born Harvard graduate was responding to attacks by Democratic Senators who argued that Mr Saverin had turned his back on the country where he met Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
Mr Saverin holds a stake of about 2 per cent in Facebook, which went public yesterday in the third largest IPO in United States history.
Senator Jack Reed urged US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to declare that Savarin could not set foot onto US soil again. A 1996 law bars from re-entry people who renounce their US citizenship for US tax purposes, but lawyers say the law has never been enforced, in part because it is difficult to prove and because the IRS is not supposed to reveal tax information.
“By all accounts Mr Saverin has renounced his US citizenship for the purposes of avoiding taxes despite taking advantage of the multiple opportunities afforded to him by the United States,” Mr Reed wrote to Ms Napolitano.
“I urge you to address any outstanding impediments to execution of this law with respect to Mr Saverin or any alien that falls within the prohibition.” Mr Reed added the federal government had successfully gotten around impediments in the past, and should do so again.
When asked whether Mr Saverin wished to return to the US at any point in the future, a spokesman for the billionaire said that “we’re not going to engage in that type of conversation”.
Earlier yesterday, Senators Chuck Schumer and Bob Casey proposed legislation to stop tax exiles from re-entering the country.
Mr Schumer called Mr Saverin’s move to Singapore an example of “a great American success story gone horribly wrong”, with Mr Saverin having “turned his back on the country that welcomed him and kept him safe, educated him, and helped him become a billionaire”.
He added: “Senator Casey and I have a status update for him: Pay your taxes in full or don’t ever try to visit the US again.
“Our two-prong plan is simple: If you renounce your citizenship to avoid paying taxes, you can’t set foot in America again, and any investments you have in America will be taxed in the future at 30 per cent.” AGENCIES
Today Online
President Ma To Focus On China-Taiwan Ties During 2nd Term?
TAIPEI: Cross-strait ties have never been better under Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou but the relationship so far has centered on economic links.
Speculation is that political talks could be up next as President Ma begins his second term.
Over the last four years, Taiwan has received numerous economic benefits from the mainland.
First, there was the opening of direct flights followed by the island welcoming a huge influx of mainland visitors.
There is also an ongoing preferential trade agreement with Beijing that has boosted jobs and investments in Taiwan.
And as President Ma starts his second term, some feared he may be under pressure for political payback.
Taiwan Brain Trust’s research department director, Liu Shih Chung, said: “Maybe in a year after Xi Jinping secures his leadership, he may start to put pressure on Mr Ma to solidify cross-strait ties under the ‘one China’ framework.”
In March, Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang party proposed “one country, two areas” as the new basis for cross-strait relations.
It’s quite different from the “one country, two systems” policy governing Hong Kong, because in Taiwan, “one country” refers to the Republic of China, which is the island’s official title.
The “one country, two areas” is consistent with the 1992 Consensus that allows each side different interpretations of the term “one China”.
But President Ma’s critics still viewed it as the first step towards political concession.
“Mr Ma may try to distract public from the problems at home to play up cross-strait relations and this would give Beijing the chance to pressure Mr Ma to give in politically,” said Mr Liu.
Opinion polls by the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party showed that 60 per cent of Taiwanese reject the “one country, two areas” formula.
But some said President Ma’s intention may have been misunderstood.
Chang Ya Chung, a political science professor at National Taiwan University, said: “He hopes the concept will further solidify the 92 consensus to pave the way for better economic future. In other words, Mr Ma is also telling Beijing to stop pressuring him. His position is ‘one country, two areas’ or ‘one China, different interpretations’ which is not going to change.”
Analysts also say China may not be in a hurry for reunification, as it is busy dealing with its own internal problems ahead of a major leadership transition later this year.
Professor Chang said: “As long as Taiwan does not declare independence, it will be doing Beijing a favour. As Taiwan grows more economically dependent on the mainland, China will gain more political leverage over the island so time is on China’s side.”
For the next four years, President Ma’s priority will remain on expanding economic ties with the mainland. But as cross-strait relations continue to progress, it’ll only be a matter of time before the political issues are addressed.
- CNA/fa
Channel News Asia
Ionescu Trial Resumes With Son Testifying In Court
SINGAPORE: The trial of the former Romanian Charge d’Affaires in Singapore, Silviu Ionescu, resumed in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, with his youngest son testifying.
Mr Bogdan Ionescu told the court on Friday that he knew what happened on the night of the accident, based on his mother’s account.
He said his mother told him that his father called her in the middle of the night, saying the car had been stolen.
He could not remember when the call was made.
Ionescu, 51, is on trial for two hit-and-run accidents on 15 December 2009.
He’s alleged to have hit three pedestrians in the two accidents in Bukit Panjang.
One of the victims – Malaysian Tong Kok Wai, 30, a hotel assistant manager – died on December 25 2009.
The black Audi A6 Ionescu was allegedly driving at the time of the accident belonged to the Romanian mission in Singapore.
Ionescu repeatedly denied he was the driver, saying the car had been stolen.
During the trial, witnesses will give evidence via video link from a courtroom in the Subordinate Courts in Singapore.
At 9.50am Romanian time on Friday, the court ordered a 30-minute recess for technicians to fix the video link connection, as it was faulty.
Singapore’s Special Envoy to Romania, Mr Ong Eng Chuan, was present in the court room in Bucharest.
- CNA/ck
Channel News Asia
Lady Gaga Warned To Tone Down Philippine Show
MANILA: Lady Gaga was warned Friday to refrain from nudity, lewd conduct and blasphemy when her Asian tour reaches the Philippines next week, after her controversial act was banned by neighbouring Indonesia.
Antonino Calixto, mayor of Manila’s Pasay district where the American pop phenomenon is due to perform on May 21 and 22, said inspectors will be on hand at the venue to ensure she does not overstep the mark.
“We reminded the producers of Lady Gaga’s concert that the show and the event as a whole shall not exhibit any nudity or lewd conduct which may be offensive to morals and good customs,” he said in a statement.
“Although we respect artistic and musical expressions, I won’t allow anyone or any group to provide acts which may be questionable in (any) way.”
Lady Gaga has already faced opposition elsewhere on the Asia leg of her tour, including in Indonesia where police denied her show a permit amid threats from Islamic hardliners.
Calixto said religious groups in the Catholic-majority Philippines have expressed concern over the show and that City hall was Friday picketed by several dozen members of a Bible study group offended by Lady Gaga’s “Judas”.
The group claimed the song “mocks and blasphemes the name and person of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the central figure of each faithful Christian in the country”, Calixto said.
Ovation Productions, the promoters of the Manila concert, told AFP its president Renen de Guia was unavailable for comment Friday.
On Wednesday, Lady Gaga’s Indonesian promoters vowed to fight to save her show, despite police denying it a permit and Islamic hardliners threatening “chaos” if she came to the mostly Muslim nation.
Production company Big Daddy said it still hoped to find a way to hold the June 3 event after already selling more than 50,000 tickets to a concert in Jakarta.
The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) said it would create havoc if Lady Gaga were allowed to perform in Indonesia, calling her the “devil’s messenger” and warning they were ready to die to stop the concert.
In March, the Korean Association of Church Communication vowed to take action to stop young people from being “infected with homosexuality and pornography” during the star’s concert in Seoul.
But the star has so far failed to tone down her performances. In Seoul, Hong Kong and Tokyo, she rode on to the stage on a mechanical horse, wearing a black bodysuit and an enormous black metal headpiece.
After Manila, the tour heads to Bangkok and Singapore. She was due to play in Jakarta after that, before flying south to New Zealand and Australia.
- AFP/fa
Channel News Asia
Gan Kim Yong To Attend World Health Assembly In Geneva
SINGAPORE: Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong will attend the 65th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 20 to 24.
The WHA is the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation and is attended by Health Ministers and delegations from 194 WHO member states.
It will discuss important public health issues, such as pandemic influenza preparedness, implementation of the International Health Regulations, and the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases.
This will be Mr Gan’s first visit to the WHA.
He will be accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Health.
Mr Gan will also meet counterparts from the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as Japan and Germany, to renew ties and explore potential collaborations in health care.
- CNA/fa
Channel News Asia
10 Suspects Arrested For Using Forged Documents
SINGAPORE: Police have arrested six men and four women suspected of using forged documents to apply for credit facilities from a local bank.
Between March and May this year, police received two reports from the bank, informing them that a number of applicants had used fictitious credentials, such as forged CPF statements and pay slips, to apply for credit facilities.
The bank found out about the forgeries when it checked the credit accounts that were in arrears.
Following the reports, the police carried out a series of operations between March 14 and May 10 and arrested 10 suspects.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects would withdraw the full amount from the bank’s credit facilities upon approval.
A portion of the money would be given to the suspects who had helped to forge the documents.
- CNA/al
Channel News Asia
Candidates Need To React To How Voters Respond To Their Campaign, Say Analysts
SINGAPORE: Analysts have said that both the People’s Action Party and Workers’ Party candidates will have to be careful in the way they approach their by-election campaigns.
But from the onset, both parties have also set very different agendas.
The ruling PAP has couched this by-election as a local contest.
Its candidate Desmond Choo is banking on the programmes he has introduced in the single-seat constituency.
He has rolled out these programmes for Hougang residents over the past year as their grassroots advisor.
The Workers’ Party, on the other hand, by virtue of the fact that it has held Hougang for 20 years, is expounding on the need for the party to defend the seat, so that the party continues to offer an alternative voice in Parliament.
Analysts say the party that can address both local and national issues will get the upper hand.
Dr Gillian Koh, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, said: “Residents in Hougang are concerned about cost-of-living issues, the place of foreigners in Singapore, land transport issues, whether they have their buses, and hawker centres.
“And all these issues, though they are questions of facilities locally, are all part of national programme and national policy. So it’s actually rather difficult to just segment it that way, to say that it is local and not national, or national only.
“So I think you have national policies, and the question is how would they translate locally to the people’s lives in Hougang. And it’s the candidate that’s able to pull these together, I think, that would be able to reach out and move the ground.”
Analysts add that while candidates can set the agenda at the early stage, they would eventually have to react to how voters respond to their campaign.
Assistant Professor Eugene Tan, Law Faculty at the Singapore Management University, said: “A party that stubbornly sticks to its original form of characterisation and doesn’t respond or engage the voters, will not come out looking that good.
“So in the early days, I think we’ll see the parties set the agenda, trying to reinforce what are the key themes. But ultimately they must put a very close ear to the ground, to understand what are the concerns of voters.
“It’s a dynamic process. So it’s not Party A saying it’s a local election, so let’s deal with local issues alone. In the end, they need to respond, they need to engage and assure voters that their candidate if voted in, would be able to deliver on the various promises.”
Candidates have nine days to campaign.
Two sites in Hougang can be used for rallies during the campaigning period.
One is the open field in front of Block 837, bounded by Hougang Avenue 4 and Hougang Central.
The other site is Hougang Stadium in Hougang Avenue 2.
- CNA/de
Channel News Asia
Changi Motorsports Hub Contract Terminated
SINGAPORE: The construction of the Changi Motorsports Hub may finally be called off, after the final termination papers were signed on Wednesday.
The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) will take back possession of the land from the SG Changi consortium on Thursday.
SG Changi could not complete the Changi Motorsports Hub as the company had run into various financial difficulties.
The next step for SSC will be to see if there are any parties interested in taking up the project.
The Request for Information phase will last from August up to the end of 2012.
A decision on whether a re-tender will be called will be made in the third quarter of 2013, SSC elaborated.
SSC CEO Lim Teck Yin said there could have been more stringent criteria in place when it came to examining the financial strengths and organisational ability of the bidding consortiums.
“We could have gone further to require a level of assurance about being able to finance the entire project, maybe through the likes of a bankers guarantee for the entire project, and not just the ability to buy the land,” he said.
“That could have benefitted the project, since we were also trying to achieve other national objectives, not least trying to get the hub up on time and ready.”
“But those are the lessons learnt,” he added.
SSC said it welcomes both local and overseas investors and is also keeping its options open to both motorsports- and non-motorsports-related concepts.
In informal sessions, it has already met five or six interested parties and will be engaging the services of a consultancy to help it with the feedback process.
- CNA/wm
Channel News Asia
HTC Smartphones Blocked By US Customs
WASHINGTON: US mobile carrier Sprint said Wednesday it was delaying the introduction of an Android smartphone from Taiwan’s HTC after the devices were blocked by US customs.
The move appeared to mark the first enforcement of a win in a trade complaint by Apple, which claimed Android devices infringed on its patents for one-tap screen commands.
Sprint said in a statement that the phone, known as the HTC EVO 4G LTE “has been delayed” and that “HTC is working to resolve this issue.”
But the carrier said, “We can’t provide specific timing for product availability at this time.”
Sprint said it received a statement from HTC saying two phones being imported into the US were “delayed due to a standard US Customs review.”
Apple won an order last December from the US International Trade Commission, which issued a “limited exclusion order” directing that HTC stop bringing offending smartphones into the United States effective on April 19.
Taiwan-based HTC had expected to be able to adapt the Android-powered handsets to sidestep the trouble with the single patent before the deadline.
The move was likely to come at the cost of removing some features smartphone users enjoy and came as part of an ongoing campaign by Apple to cobble the momentum of smartphones powered by Google’s Android software.
Apple has accused HTC and other smartphone makers using Google’s Android mobile operating system of infringing on Apple-held patents. A separate case is pending against Samsung.
- AFP/fa
Channel News Asia