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Updated Monday, February 6, 2012 0:00 am TWN, The China Post news staff and CNA



	Local entertainer Makiyo, second right, bows to family of a male taxi driver hospitalized after being hit by Makiyo's Japanese friend while her mother, right, looks on in Taipei, yesterday. The Japanese friend, Takateru Tomoyori, was charged with bodily harm and ordered not to leave Taiwan Saturday, Feb. 4. (CNA) Enlarge Photo

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Entertainer apologizes after taxi beating

The China Post news staff and CNA--Local singer and actress Makiyo teared up and broke down as she apologized to the taxi driver beaten up by her Japanese friend, yesterday, accompanied by her mother.

Makiyo and the taxi driver's family held different explanations to how the conflict had stirred and the fight had resulted, and her friend might be subject to legal charges as the taxi driver was seriously injured and remains in a hospital intensive care unit.

Takateru Tomoyori, a Japanese friend of Makiyo, was ordered not to leave Taiwan Saturday after he was arrested and charged with causing bodily harm to a taxi driver following a dispute.

Tomoyori was arrested Friday after striking a taxi driver, surnamed Lin, who suffered serious head injuries, two fractured ribs, a brain hemorrhage and concussion after being struck.

Tomoyori was then released on bail of NT$50,000 (US$1,695). The case has been transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office.

Local media reported that the incident occurred after taxi driver Lin asked Tomoyori to buckle his seat belt, with Tomoyori reportedly refusing.

Makiyo, who rode in the taxi with Tomoyori, held a Saturday press conference along with Tomoyori to claim they had worn their seat belts while in the taxi and charged that the taxi driver touched Makiyo's breast when returning change to them which led to Tomoyori's attack on Lin. The language barrier also played a role in the dispute, Makiyo added.

Tomoyori speaks Japanese, while Makiyo speaks both Mandarin and Japanese.

Lin's family has since refuted these claims, charging that Makiyo did not even pay the taxi fare, let alone have any change returned to her.

The 27-year-old actress said yesterday that she was intoxicated at the time of the incident and was still confused during the Saturday press conference. She was really sorry for the damage done to driver's family.

Police said Makiyo's claim that Tomoyori was attacking Lin to protect her might not be proven true since many passers-by witnessed the incident, reporting that Tomoyori knocked Lin to the ground and Lin had not fought back.

Huang Mou-hsin, Taipei's deputy chief prosecutor, said in light of the severe injuries suffered by Lin, prosecutors will seek to determine whether the case should be handled as an offense causing severe bodily harm.

Meanwhile, an official statement released on Makiyo's Facebook page Saturday has caused a stir among netizens.

In the statement, Makiyo said that she apologized for the incident causing attention in the media and for wasting social resources. “As I am not the one involved in the case, I cannot comment on it,” read the statement.

Many netizens criticized the statement, saying if Makiyo was not involved in the case, it was then not possible that the driver had harassed her, as she said.

“I guess what they wanted to say was they had the right to hit people because she was harassed,” noted a netizen on Makiyo's Facebook page.

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Comments

February 6, 2012 benq593090613@

HA!

February 6, 2012 carlos.segovia33@

There are two versions of the incident. Who is saying the truth and nothing but the truth? Two facts are also true. A drunk person like Tomoyori-with his nightclub owner and possible, I assume, gangster related background-is prone to violence. The second is that some-not all-taxi drivers are sexual harassers.

February 6, 2012 carltanong@

Whoever feels his body movement will be obstructed from fastening the seatbelt is the one who was caressing Makiyo’s breast. Throw Tomoyori in jail.

February 6, 2012 loverosamundkwan@

I think that Makiyo should just tell the truth, and take full responsibility for mistakes, if any, she made. We want social justice. Nobody who hit people badly should get away with the crime he/she commits.

February 6, 2012 Mlho81@

I don't know which is true but if I am the taxi driver, I will definitely NOT harass a woman with 3 others looking at, plus one big guy who looks like he is ready to prey on a victim anytime.

February 6, 2012 Hoteeskm@

Jail the Japanese [guy and gal]. How dare they beat up a Taiwanese in our land?

February 7, 2012 olichu@

The excuse for beating the taxi driver is pretty lame...who hasn't accidentally brushed up against a breast or two in a crowded subway, club, bus, etc...What a lame excuse. Either way, it was an accident and doesn't deserve a beating. This excuse might work in Japan but nowhere else in the real world. Can’t believe that bail was on a thousand and some odd change. It should have been set at $50k US.

February 7, 2012 ludahai_twn@

carltanong@ wrote:
Whoever feels his body movement will be obstructed from fastening the seatbelt is the one who was caressing Makiyo’s breast. Throw Tomoyori in jail.

Once again, your post is nonsensical.

Ever hear of the notion of a fair trial first? Of course not. KMT supporters wouldn't know what a fair trial is even if it hit them right upside the head.

February 7, 2012 aslant_94@

This is too much!!! That Japanese man never showed respect for Taiwan Law and thinks he can do whatever he wants in Taiwan. Should punish him and jail him. Makiyo also needs to be punished too.

February 7, 2012 johnny.brian@

Stupid is stupid does.... Send these Japanese home.....they are useless and abusive....

February 7, 2012 cloggedwithguts@

aslant_94@ wrote:
This is too much!!! That Japanese man never showed respect for Taiwan Law and thinks he can do whatever he wants in Taiwan. Should punish him and jail him. Makiyo also needs to be punished too.

Unfortunately those Japs still see the Taiwanese as their colonial subjects...oh the bad old days.

February 22, 2012 johnny.brian@

johnny.brian@ wrote:
Stupid is stupid does.... Send these Japanese home.....they are useless and abusive....

Jail these Japanese brads for several years before sending them home....

February 28, 2012 mary_chua@

The government should not be blamed on this matter - it will affect the diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Japan.
It just involved an unknown taxi driver.