Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure

A "finance man" ran over a cyclist's left foot and fled in the chaos, allegedly a hit-and-run. [Sanli News reporters Wang Yiqi and Liao Yiyang] News link: Attorney Li Yusheng of Fidelity Law Firm stated that the perpetrator in this case was guilty of hit-and-run, with a statutory sentence of at least six months but no more than five years. Because the perpetrator confessed to the crime and reached a settlement with the victim, the judge imposed a minimum sentence of six months in prison, commuted to a fine, and suspended sentence. Conversely, in other hit-and-run cases, if the perpetrator fails to reach a settlement with the victim, denies the crime, and causes serious harm to the victim, he could still face a maximum sentence of five years...

Taipei Metro Clash! Passenger in Crossdress Kicks Woman in Priority Seat, "Unhappy with Being Forced to Give Up Her Seat" | FTV News Reporter Ma Shengjie News Link: A heated scene erupted on the MRT train! Priority seats have been renamed, and there's no requirement to give up seats. A younger passenger in the priority seat was repeatedly pushed by a white-haired woman using her bag, forcing her to give up her seat! The young passenger stood up and kicked the woman away! Attorney Li Yusheng of Fidelity Law Firm stated that in this case, the elderly woman initially struck the seated passenger twice with the bag. If the passenger's retaliatory actions were intended to avoid unlawful assault, legally, this could constitute self-defense...

In the Jinghuacheng case, Shen Qingjing testified in court, alleging a third person solicited bribes and was familiar with Lin Chin-jung. │FTV News reporter Huang Guocheng News link: The Taipei District Court continues its trial of former People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je in the Jinghuacheng case. Today, in addition to summoning Ko Wen-je, Ying Hsiao-wei, and Ying Hsiao-wei's assistant Wu Shun-min, defendant Shen Qingjing also appeared as a witness. Shen Qingjing maintained that he was merely complaining, not making a complaint. He also revealed in court that a third person solicited bribes and was familiar with Lin Chin-jung. Attorney Li Yusheng of Fidelity Law Firm stated that Shen Qingjing stated during the court hearing that Lin Chin-jung had blocked the Jinghuacheng case, and therefore did not report it...

A suspect was arrested in front of a popular Shezi Island porridge shop, with his car filled with drug-laced coffee packets. │TVBS News reporters Guo Ying, Yan Shengfen, and Yu Xinhan News link: Late at night, police officers arrived to apprehend a suspect in front of a popular mushroom and pork porridge shop on Shezi Island in Taipei City. He was stopped for riding an erratic bicycle. When officers discovered a large number of drug-laced coffee packets hidden inside his car, he attempted to flee and even choked the officers. After being handcuffed and arrested, he pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking. Attorney Li Yusheng of Fidelity Law Firm stated that if a suspect personally administered a Class II drug, the penalty is up to three years in prison. However, if the suspect sold or possessed a Class II drug with intent to sell, the penalty could be life imprisonment or...

A man in Yonghe, New Taipei City, was answering a phone call outside a pet store when his beloved dog followed him outside. Within minutes, the furry companion was taken away by a stranger. Police reviewed surveillance footage and identified the suspect, who claimed she took the dog home after mistaking it for a stray. She was subsequently charged with theft. Attorney Li Yusheng of Fidelity Law Firm stated that if it's objectively clear that an unleashed puppy has an owner, but the owner still takes it, it constitutes theft under the criminal law. If the perpetrator claims they mistook it for a stray...

Huang Kuo-chang was accused of "hiring paparazzi to follow and monitor political opponents," and that following political opponents "is not protected by press freedom." Lawyers: Up to five years in prison. | Sanli News reporters You Tao and Wu Jiecheng. News link: Fidelity Law Firm attorney Li Yusheng stated that, based on the Constitution's guarantee of press freedom, the media has a need to interview and report the truth, but they are prohibited from intruding on or disturbing others' privacy without reason, as doing so would exceed the boundaries of press freedom. Hiring paparazzi to follow political opponents is clearly motivated by personal gain, exceeding the boundaries of press freedom and potentially infringing on the law.

The first-instance verdict in the DPP spy case has Huang Qurong sentenced to 10 years. All four pro-democracy spies have been sentenced, and the judge's anger has exacerbated diplomatic tensions. │ Sanli News reporters You Tao and Liao Yiyang. News link: Fidelity Law Firm attorney Li Yusheng stated that the defendants in this case were charged with leaking state secrets, spying and collecting state secrets, and money laundering. The statutory maximum sentence could be up to 25 years in prison. The judge ultimately sentenced the three defendants to 10 years, 8 years and 2 months, and 4 years, respectively, which is not much different from previous court sentences in similar cases. However, the judge's sentence differed significantly from the prosecutor's specific request, and...

It was revealed that Ko Wen-je was infected with HPV while in prison. Chen Pei-chi sighed, "My heart is bleeding." The Taipei Detention Center responded. │ Era News, One TV News reporter Wang Zhongjun News link: Chen Pei-chi, wife of former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, posted a complaint on Facebook today (20th). She complained that people from the monitoring center often called to check on her whereabouts in the early morning. It was suspected that this was because their home signal was poor and they suspected that Ko Wen-je was running away, which caused the two of them to have poor sleep quality. Chen Pei-chi also accused the Taipei Detention Center of poor living conditions and the lack of toilet lids in the cells, which led to Ko Wen-je's infection with HPV. She has arranged for a full-body health check next week. The Taipei Detention Center responded to this...

Ko Wen-je slams the Taipei District Prosecutors Office's ban on contact with 200-300 witnesses as harsh. │Mirror News reporter Zhang Jinghan. News link: Ko Wen-je's courtroom appearance today (9/15) focused on whether his contact with witnesses posed a risk of collusion. The prosecution argued for Ko Wen-je to remain in custody until all witnesses had been questioned. If bail were to be granted, Ko would be barred from contact with any witnesses listed on the evidence list. However, Ko's attorney argued that the evidence list contained at least 200-300 names, some of whom were unnecessary and had already signed recognizances, and that the standards should be relaxed. Liu Yi-ling, an attorney at Fidelity Law Firm...

"Orange" mentioned in court for the first time! Li Wenzong: Gave NT$8 million. Source unknown | CTS News reporter Sun Yuli News link: Former People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je returned to the Taipei District Court on the 16th. Li Wenzong, then Ko Wen-je's campaign chief financial officer, appeared in court as a witness and was questioned. During the questioning, the prosecutor asked about the NT$8 million deposited into the New Hometown Foundation. Li Wenzong said that the money was given by Orange, but the other party did not disclose the source. He also mentioned that Ko Wen-je and Hsu Chih-yu were "a team," meaning that others would not know about their affairs. As for whether Orange handled Ko Wen-je's finances, he was not sure, but Li Wenzong was concerned about Orange...

Ko Wen-je's NT$70 million bail was revoked and the Taipei District Court will reopen his detention hearing next Monday. │ CTS News Reporter Cai Zhimin News Link: Former People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je's bail was revoked by the High Court yesterday (12th) and the detention hearing will be reopened at 10 am on Monday. On the same day, the High Court directly ordered DPP Taipei City Councilor Chen Yi-jun to post a NT$1 million bail, which also caused the People's Party to question whether it was a double standard! The ruling stated that Ko Wen-je's case involved cases such as the Jinghua City case and political donations, and that he had not yet completed the questioning of witnesses and had not confessed to the crime from beginning to end. Chen Yi-jun's case was relatively simple and was suspected of fraudulently claiming assistant fees. She has already confessed to the crime...