Blogged By: La Tray
Source & Story Credit: Channel News Asia
Media Credit: Photos (taxiuncle.com) (taipeitimes) Video (YouTube hkgonow)
Posted: Sunday March 4, 2012 @ 10:40 p.m. PST
Taiwan singer-actress Makiyo’s lawyer Hsu Ling Zhu told reporters that Makiyo was willing to compensate the cabby she allegedly attacked, NT$2 million (S$84,800), if he agreed to settle the case out of court, reported Taiwan media.
Hsu revealed that the NT$2 million (S$84,800) partially consisted of funds earmarked for Makiyo’s mother’s cancer treatments, as she had no other means of raising that money in such a short time.
Speaking to the media after the first hearing of Makiyo’s cabby assault case on Thursday, Hsu produced a signed NT$2 million (S$84,800) cheque Makiyo had prepared for the cabby.
Hsu went on to reveal that Makiyo sincerely hoped to settle the matter amicably and had taken great pains to raise the money.
She stressed that Makiyo’s NT$2 million (S$84,800) cheque is meant to cover the cabby’s immediate expenses and did not represent the total sum Makiyo is prepared to compensate the cabby.
Hsu added that Makiyo will also cover any other treatment costs the driver may incur in the future as a result of the the incident, pointing out that the star’s compensation offer is a very generous one.
At the Thursday hearing, Makiyo and her male Japanese friend Taketeru Tomoyori pleaded not guilty to charges of causing grevious hurt to a cabby during an altercation last month, which left the cabby in hospital.
The two only agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of causing bodily harm.
Tomoyori has since offered to compensate the cabby as well, and said in a statement that he was prepared to accept whatever punishment the Taiwan courts mete out to him.