Taiwanese
singer and actress Makiyo
was released on $1,263 bail and barred from leaving the country early Tuesday,
after being questioned by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office overnight about
the alleged assault of a taxi driver.
Makiyo was
listed as a defendant in the case on suspicion of malicious destruction of
property and aggravated assault, yesterday, five days after the incident
occurred.
Makiyo's two local female entertainer friends Yaz, who rose to
fame by emulating the daughter of former President Chen Shui-bian, and Vanessa,
an assistant program host, were confirmed to also have been present at the
incident.
The prosecutors concluded yesterday that the incident occurred
while the trio and Takateru Tomoyori were drunk. Makiyo had gotten into an
argument with the taxi driver surnamed Lin, who asked her to fasten her seat
belt to comply with traffic safety regulations, the prosecutors said.
The
group had decided to switch to a different taxi, and Makiyo, upon getting out of
the taxi, kicked the vehicle's door. When Lin tried to call the police, Tomoyori
assaulted him, beating him to the ground, kicking his head, and calling him
names. The foursome then hailed another cab and fled the scene, according to
prosecutors.
A witness testified to Tomoyori's statement that he was the
only person involved in the assault. According to the witness, Makiyo and her
friends had not participated in any physical violence; they just stood there and
looked on.
Makiyo was released on bail while Yaz and Vanessa were
released on their own recognizance after several hours of
questioning.
When the trio left the prosecutors office at around 2 am
Tuesday, they bowed several times to express their regret.
Tomoyori again
apologized yesterday, admitting to having single-handedly committed all of the
violence, and asking the public to not project the animosity toward him onto
Japan as a nation in general.
Taipei City Counselor Lai Su-ju suggested
that the Taipei City Department of Transportation should mass produce rear seat
belt warning signs for taxi drivers to put up in their vehicles.
The
regulations require taxi drivers to inform passengers of the new law, but did
not specify how it needed to be done, Lai said. In addition to vocally reminding
the passengers, posting reminder stickers serves the same purpose, she
emphasized.
Lai criticized as "ridiculous" that Yaz and Vanessa remained
silent for four days after the incident became public.
She also pointed
out that Lin had actually already dialed 110 and was about to inform the police
of the situation when his cell phone was intercepted and the beating
proceeded.
Prosecutors are currently looking into whether Tomoyori had
any intention of actually killing the taxi driver on Thursday
evening.
Despite Lin's grave situation, the Lin family expressed
gratitude for the outpouring of moral and financial support, Lai said
yesterday.
Quite a few philanthropists and kind citizens had contacted
her and expressed eagerness to donate to the injured driver and his family, she
said, with CEO of the Yulon Group Kenneth Yen's personal donation of NT$500,000
on the top of the list.
(Source: Asiaone)
