Taichung:A Hong Kong gang member has been indicted over the assault of Akio Yaita, a political commentator based in Taiwan, who was attacked in a Taichung hotel lobby in July.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office announced the indictment of Liu Kong-faat, a member of the Hong Kong-based Wo Shing Wo gang. He faces charges of assault, public insult, public threat, and organized crime.

The attack on Yaita, a Japanese journalist who became a Republic of China (Taiwan) citizen in 2024, occurred on July 6 after he delivered a public speech. Prosecutors revealed that Liu was not acting alone, as four other suspects, members of another Hong Kong gang, are now on a wanted list after fleeing Taiwan.

Investigations are ongoing to identify the mastermind behind the operation and to determine if there were any accomplices in Taiwan. Prior to the attack, a man using the alias Chen Wei-hao allegedly contacted a suspect surnamed Ng, offering funds to organize the assault on Yaita as an act of intimidation against free speech.

The suspects, including Liu, arrived in Taiwan on July 1. However, two individuals decided the operation was too risky and withdrew. Ng left Taiwan on July 5, just a day before Liu executed the attack, with another suspect acting as a lookout.

Liu was apprehended at Taichung International Airport while trying to flee to Busan, South Korea. The other suspect had already left Taiwan. On July 7, the Taichung District Court approved prosecutors' request to detain Liu, and a five-year prison sentence is being sought for him.