Over 100 Dead Chickens Found Dumped in a Stream, Rancher Indicted in Miaoli County

(Central News Agency, reporter Guan Ruiping, Miaoli County, July 3) A large number of chicken carcasses were discovered in a mountain stream in Wumei Village, Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County in April. Police investigation revealed that a rancher surnamed Gu from Xihu Township packed about 180 dead chickens and had another man surnamed Gu transport them and dump them into the stream. The Miaoli District Prosecutors Office has concluded its investigation and indicted the two men for violating the Waste Disposal Act.

Earlier this year, a large number of chicken carcasses appeared in a large drainage ditch north of Waipu Fishing Port in Houlong Township. Investigations by prosecutors and police found that the source was a layer farm in Fengyuan District, Taichung City. Over a thousand chickens confirmed to have avian influenza were not only dumped into the drainage ditch but also secretly buried on private farmland in Houlong, Miaoli County, drawing public attention. Unexpectedly, on April 2, the Tongxiao Police Precinct received a report from a citizen alleging that a large number of chicken carcasses had been dumped into a stream in the mountainous area of Wumei Village, Tongxiao Township. After the police, along with the Miaoli County Animal Disease Control Center, the Environmental Protection Bureau, and other units, inspected the site and reviewed surveillance footage from the surrounding area, they reported the case to the prosecutors for investigation.

The Miaoli District Prosecutors Office stated today that Prosecutor Chen Xin-fu directed the investigation and confirmed that approximately 180 chicken carcasses were dumped. Through cross-referencing relevant evidence, it was discovered that the carcasses were dumped by a rancher surnamed Gu from a ranch in Xihu Township. The rancher, knowing that dead chickens should be processed by a legal facility, instead packed a large number of chickens, which had been attacked and killed by wild dogs, into plastic bags. Another man surnamed Gu then used a small truck to transport them to the mountainous area and dump them into the stream.

The prosecutors have concluded their investigation and indicted the two defendants surnamed Gu on charges of illegally disposing of waste, in violation of Article 46, Paragraph 4 of the Waste Disposal Act.

The Miaoli County Government's Agriculture Department told CNA that the chicken carcasses found at the scene had already decomposed, making sampling for testing impossible. They also visited the defendant's ranch for health checks and collected samples for testing, but found no evidence of avian influenza infection in the chickens.

Furthermore, the Miaoli District Prosecutors Office stated that regarding the case of infected chicken carcasses in Houlong Township, it was found that they were dumped by a rancher surnamed Yun from Taichung and a landowner surnamed Yan. As the case involved cross-jurisdictional responsibilities, the Taichung Branch of the High Prosecutors Office held a meeting to discuss the matter and provided the relevant case files to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office for investigation and indictment. After the investigation was concluded, the case was forwarded to the Taichung District Court for joint trial as a consolidated case. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150703

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