Premier issues warning after mob bosses try to hold event at Legislature

Taipei, March 27 (CNA) Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) issued a warning Thursday after one of Taiwan's largest criminal organizations booked tables at a restaurant inside the Legislative Yuan to select a new gang leader.

During a Cabinet meeting, Cho noted the "inappropriate, public actions of domestic gangs" and the negative impression they created for young people, saying such matters should be "effectively curbed" by the authorities, Cabinet spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) told reporters.

Cho also instructed the Interior Ministry and National Police Agency to closely monitor any further developments in the case, and to investigate and deal strictly with any illegal behavior, Lee said.

Cho's warning came after news broke on Tuesday that the Bamboo Union, one of Taiwan's largest organized crime networks, had planned to meet at the Legislative Yuan's Kangyuan Restaurant to select a new gang leader.

The spaces for 35 members of the gang's leadership were reportedly booked by Chinese Unification Promotion Party founder Chang An-le (張安樂), who is also known as "White Wolf."

After finding out about the plans on Tuesday, Cho ordered the Interior Ministry to "handle" the issue, saying the Legislative Yuan's restaurant "cannot become a mob den," Lee said at the time.

The Bamboo Union's planned meeting follows the death of its previous leader Huang Shao-tsen (黃少岑), known as "Yao Yao,"in February at age 74.

Huang's memorial service, held in Taipei on March 6, was attended by an array of Taiwan's political and business elites, including former Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) of the Kuomintang (KMT) and legislative caucus convener Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Other prominent attendees included Ruentex Group founder Samuel Yin (尹衍樑), deputy KMT chairman Sean Lien (連勝文), and Legislator Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊) of the Taiwan People's Party.