Great-grandson of Chiang Kai-shek accused of threatening Taipei American School
23-year-old Andrew Chiang has been released on bail after making perceived threats against his former alma mater
The great-grandson of influential Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek has found himself in the middle of a Taiwanese media frenzy because of alleged threats that he made against his former school.
Andrew Chiang You-ching was released on NT$80,000 (HK$21,000) bail November 10 after being detained by Taiwanese prosecutors, Taipei Times reported.
Investigators questioned the 23-year-old over perceived threats he had made on his Facebook page against Taipei American School (TAS). Chiang had previously been a student at the school but had been expelled six years ago after an altercation with a classmate.
Chiang, who was released on bail under the condition he would not threaten, harass or come into contact with TAS faculty and students, lashed out at his former alma mater, claiming that he had been “slandered”.
“I woke up this morning to find four policemen in my home and I’ve been bombarded the whole day [by investigators],” Chiang told a crowd of reporters the day after his release. “They told me I could be locked up for three years for some comments I made on Facebook and now I have to face 50 or maybe 30 reporters.”
Chiang argued that the alleged Facebook threats he made against his former school had been “blown…out of proportion,” and were largely directed towards an administrator who had forced him to participate in a sporting match while injured.
Media reports have been unclear regarding the exact nature of the original threats, but a look at Chiang’s Facebook page reveals posts from October 19, when the 23-year-old expressed grievances towards Shaun O’Rourke, Associate Principal of TAS:
“i wanna sue shaun o'rourke and friends aka taipei american school administrative body so bad.... problem is i dont have the cash. but i think im gonna take u to school representing myself i hope for your life here coming to a complete stop and break.” [sic]
A selection of different posts on Chiang’s Facebook page reveal a seemingly long-lasting grudge with Taipei American School, presumably resulting from sporting injuries that have affected the young man ever since his expulsion from school:
“my ankle broke…and i went to tas to get money for it cuz a coach crippled me and then i went to tas and talk about it…they made up a bull sh*t story about something i didnt do and threatened me…and now i already got interrogated by the police and are going to court… taipei american school aint nothing but a group of white devils bullying me and i wont stand for it! i have a right to defend my rights as an individual and i willl not violate my rights of living defamation free and without threats for anyone especially not taipei american school… im not the first kid taipei american has tried to ruin.” [sic]
On other sections of his Facebook page, Chiang claims that he “developed substance abuse problems and suicidal impulses resulting from the actions taken against [him] on multiple fronts by Taipei American School.”
In statements given to reporters after his detention, Chiang reiterated these points, adding that he did not believe his Facebook posts warranted detention, and implied he was being targeted because of his prominent family background.
“I'm not a lawmaker…not Chiang Kai-shek, I'm just a 23-year-old man,” Chiang said.
Chiang is the youngest of politician Chiang Hsiao-yung’s three sons, and has largely shied away from the limelight while his two brothers, Demos Chiang Yiu-po and Edward Chiang Yiu-chun, are successful designers. Chiang Hsiao-yung, who died of cancer in 1996, was the grandson of famous Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek, who served as the president of Taiwan until his death in 1975.