A self-styled Taiwanese "prophet" was convicted
Thursday of "spreading rumours" when he said a monster earthquake
would destroy the island last month and fined Tw$40,000 ($1,380), a
court said.
Wang Chao-hung, better known as "Teacher Wang", stirred up a
media frenzy after he "predicted" a giant quake and tsunami would
hit Taiwan on May 11, urging people to move into makeshift shelters
converted from cargo containers.
Wang later claimed that his remarks were misinterpreted by
journalists when the catastrophe failed to materialise, but he was
convicted by a district court in Nantou, central Taiwan, of
spreading socially disruptive rumours.
He may face additional fraud charges as prosecutors are
investigating claims that he might have cooperated with container
businesses to set up a shelter village in Nantou.
