STRATEGIC PARTNERS
September 24, 2002
TAICHUNG, Taiwan -- A military officer was arrested in Taichung on Sept. 24 after he allegedly attempted to blow up an ATM, according to a report in the Taipei Times.
Chang Kabi-chi, 23, an army lieutenant platoon leader, was allegedly about to detonate an explosive charge to break into an ATM at a post office on Taichung's Shuangshih Road when two police officers spotted him.
Chang fled from the scene on a motorcycle, but was nabbed in front of a nearby bank. Police discovered a little more than half a kilo of dynamite, a detonator, a 30-meter fuse and other incriminating articles in his bag.
Chang confessed to the police that he was attempting to steal cash from the ATM.
Chang apparently carried the explosives and other items on a flight from the offshore island county of Penghu, where his platoon is based. Police said they were baffled as to how he could have passed flight security checks with explosives in his bag. Police said they will cooperate with military authorities in investigating the case.
Meanwhile, Ministry of National Defense spokesman Maj. Gen. Huang Suey-sheng said initial investigations showed that the Penghu defense command has not found any shortage of dynamite in its arsenal.
