The investigation is aimed at determining whether the collapsed buildings sit directly on fault lines, and whether negligence contributed to the collapses. Chang, who has emigrated to Canada, still owns 24 tracts of land in Taiwan. The prosecutors have no right themselves to seize his assets, Hsu said. Hsu had also notified relevant land administration and financial institutions to prevent Chang from selling his assets. Hsu also called for him to return to Taiwan and face legal action.
Shoddy construction is blamed for the collapse of many buildings across Taiwan during the quake.
Relatively new buildings toppled over in Taipei city and county, where the 921 quake registered a magnitude 4.0 on the Richter scale. In Yunlin County, investigators had discovered three toppled buildings built with empty oil containers used as filler to save on concrete and bricks. Taiwan's earthquake-resistant building codes only came into effect in 1982, and experts say they have been enforced too laxly since that time. This story has been viewed 444 times. The Taipei Times.