MOJ Investigating Reports of Rapid Kit Hoarding 快篩囤貨.假貨亂象頻傳 法務部:調查中

The Ministry of Justice says it is investigating reports of the rapid test kit hoarding and fake rapid test kit sales. The Ministry of Health and Welfare, meanwhile, says Taiwan will be able to produce nearly 16 million rapid test kits a month within a few months.

The Ministry of Justice says it is investigating reports of rapid test kit hoarding and fake rapid test kit sales.

Tsai Ching-hsiang, Justice Minister: “”
Chen I-hsin, Legislator (KMT): “”
You said judicial agencies investigated five cases involving people and then there were 22 cases and they were done with them and sent four to the prosecutors office. What are the charges? Hoarding and not selling things and also driving up prices.

In response to lawmakers calling on the central government to release more rapid test kits to the public, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Taiwan can produce up to 4.45 million kits per month and once new production lines are up and running after July, monthly production may go up to 15.95 million. The ministry also claimed the approved import volume of test kits is more than adequate and it's just that no one was importing them before.

Chen Ou-po, Legislator (DPP): “I attended a meeting yesterday, an event. I was criticized for not supervising you enough. Demand is up all over the world. Why can't Taiwan get any?”

Shih Chung-liang, Deputy Health and Welfare Minister: “We approved import applications for 4.6 billion. That's a very big number, but no one was selling any so actual import volume was very low.”

One lawmaker also wanted clarification on rumors of politician interference in the import process.

Tseng Ming-chung, Legislator (KMT): “Did any lawmakers intervene, or any high-level party officials?”
Shih Chung-liang, Deputy Health and Welfare Minister: “No. We followed the procedure to the letter. ”
Tseng Ming-chung, Legislator (KMT): “Are you sure?” 

Shih Chung-liang, Deputy Health and Welfare Minister: “Yes, I'm sure. ”

Tseng Ming-chung, Legislator (KMT): “We have received information to the contrary. ”

Chen Ou-po, Legislator (DPP): “I want the Ministry of Justice to launch an investigation and investigate the case thoroughly to make sure there were no high-level party officials or government agencies or legislators involved. ”

Prosecutors have indicted 103 people in 93 cases between February 2020 and May 13 this year for spreading epidemic-related fake news and deferred prosecution against 475 people in 397 cases. The Ministry of Justice says anyone found to be spreading fake epidemic news will face criminal charges and prosecution.

民眾搶購快篩試劑，傳出市場上有人囤積試劑或是賣假試劑，法務部表示調查當中。

立委要求行政部門提高快篩供給數量。衛福部表示，目前國產家用快篩試劑最大產能每月約445萬劑，新購置生產設備7月陸續到位，到時將可提升至1595萬劑，至於已經核准的進口量絕對足夠，但民間廠商因為之前的疫情穩定所以沒有大量進口。

民進黨立委陳歐珀表示：「我昨天參加一個會議、一個活動，當場我就被罵，就說我沒有監督你們好，因為全世界都在搶，為什麼我們台灣搶不到。」

對此，衛福部常務次長石崇良回應：「我們所核准的、所申請的進口量是46億，所以量是很大，但是因為之前沒有什麼人買，所以他們進口的量很少。」

另外，也有立委質疑核准快篩進口過程有政治力介入。

國民黨立委曾銘宗詢問石崇良是否有哪個立委或黨政高層介入，石崇良則回應沒有，完全按照程序進行。對此，曾銘宗也指出：「我們已經有掌握到某個訊息，有人介入喔。」

針對政治力介入的指控，陳歐珀表示：「我想請法務部能夠偵查，就把整個案子偵查，否則好像有什麼，又是黨政高層，好像我們這個，好像政府部門或者是我們立法委員，專門做這個事情一樣。」

檢方疫情期間查辦假訊息，自2020年2月到2022年5月13日，共起訴93件、103人；緩起訴397件、475人。法務部強調疫情假訊息的刑事犯罪，檢調單位一定查辦到底。