Taiwan Indicts 3 Gangsters in Writer’s Death

Prosecutors filed murder charges today against three reputed gangsters in the slaying in California of Chinese-American writer Henry Liu, whose writings had been critical of the Taiwan government.

Taipei’s District Court Prosecutor’s Office announced that in addition to murder, it has indicted Chen Chi-li, 41, his lieutenant Wu Tun, 35, and another reputed gangster, Tung Kuei-sen, 33, on charges of participating in “organized crimes.”

Tung is still at large and there have been unofficial reports that he is in the Philippines.

Chen and Wu were arrested last November in an anti-crime sweep unrelated to the slaying of Liu, 52, at his home in Daly City, Calif., on Oct. 15. But local press reports said they confessed to the murder when U.S. authorities linked them to the case.

The San Mateo County district attorney’s office issued murder arrest warrants for Chen and Wu, but the United States has no extradition treaty with Taiwan, and the government said they will be tried here next month. They face a possible death penalty if convicted.