In the last week of October 2020, Chen’s flight from
Hong Kong landed at Taiwan’s Taichung international airport. At immigration, he
gave the address of his friend in Nantou where he would quarantine for the next
14 days. Chen knew how strict the quarantine regulations in Taiwan were. He was
happy he would spend the two weeks in an empty apartment, rather than a hotel.
The friend had promised to keep the fridge full. Chen’s suitcase was filled
with lots of easy-to-cook meals. As agreed, he found the key to the apartment
under the carpet outside. The fridge was full, a note with the wifi password was
pasted on it. The hotplate worked well. Chen managed to switch on the TV and
flick through the channels. Weather was great. The 14-day quarantine promised
to be a comfortable experience.
*****
On the third night the doorbell rang. Chen got up from
his bed and checked the time on the cellphone which was charging. It was 23.15.
The simple and honest man that he was, he went to the door and opened it. That
was a mistake. Two guys, with short hair, and arms toned up in Nantou gyms,
came inside and shut the door behind them. They clarified they were not
robbers, but debt collectors. They told Chen the amount he owed to them. He
simply needed to pay it, and go back to bed in peace.
Chen told the gentlemen they were mistaken. This was
not his apartment. He was simply staying here for the 14-day quarantine. Of
course, the debt collectors didn’t believe him. They had heard many creative
stories from the debtors before. The taller man hit Chen hard. The other held
him, and carried him to the car that was waiting downstairs.
*****
The news reports from Taiwan don’t mention how the debt
collectors managed to extract the large amount from Chen. One assumes they took
him to an ATM, and made him withdraw cash to hand it over to them. It was only
the following afternoon that in a bruised state, his body aching and head spinning
he landed back in the apartment of his friend.
A few hours later he was surprised to hear the
doorbell again. The same goons have come back, he thought. This time, he won’t
open the door. “Police”, the loud voice said.
*****
Taiwan has some of the strictest quarantine laws in
the world. You may remember the story where $4700 fine was slapped on a man for
leaving his hotel room for eight seconds.
The Taiwanese government uses what is called an “electronic fence” system. The system monitors all phone signals to see if anyone in
quarantine takes their phone out of the address or turns it off. In theory, one
can leave the apartment without the smartphone and try to beat the system. But
the police are smarter. They call the phone twice every day at random times,
and if it is not answered, visit the place. Stories have been heard of their
calling people at odd hours.
When Chen was kidnapped, his phone was left home. When
the police called it twice, and there was no answer, they decided to visit the
address. On opening the door, they informed Chen he must pay a fine of Taiwanese
$100,000 ($4700) for breaking the quarantine law. Chen tried to tell them he was
abducted and assaulted; the police didn’t believe his story. They had heard
many such stories before.
*****
This week, the Taiwanese Justice ministry said the
investigations into the events that happened three months ago were complete.
Chen’s explanation was confirmed, he had violated the quarantine regulations
not by his own intentional or negligent behaviour. The fine of Taiwanese $ 100,000
was revoked. The police are now looking for the debt collectors.
Chen’s is the only case in Taiwan where the quarantine
fine was cancelled.
Ravi
बिचारा Chen
ReplyDeletePoor guy
ReplyDelete