Shih Li-hsing (史力行), the retired veteran who splashed red ink on former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday at the Chung Cheng Institute of Technology in Tahsi, Taipei County, was released on NT$30,000 bail after undergoing questioning yesterday afternoon.
Lee did not file a lawsuit against Shih and Shih's attorney Lin Hsien-tung (
Shih was presented to the prosecution by police on charges of interference against personal liberty and character defamation.
However, according to the law, Shih's act does not actually constitute interference against personal liberty, a high-ranking prosecutor who declined to be named said.
The personal liberty interference charge must be initiated by a public prosecutor.
The charge for character defamation is indictable only if Lee chooses to file suit against Shih.
Shih is unlikely to face more than minor legal penalties in the attack.
According to the Criminal Code, a person who publicly insults another shall be detained or face a fine of no more than NT$300.
But if the offense is committed with violence, then the offender may face imprisonment of not more than one year, detention, or a fine of not more than NT$500.
After being arrested, Shih was transferred three times to different places for interrogation before he was sent to the Taoyuan County Prosecutors Office.
Lin, who volunteered as Shih's attorney, became angry and quarreled with police officers at one point when he could not learn of Shih's whereabouts.
After Shih was released on bail, Lin apologized on behalf of Shih to the former president.
"Shih will write a formal statement of apology and send it to Lee. If Lee does not take legal action, the case will then be closed," Lin said, adding that it was just a simple accident.
"We all regret such an incident ... we hope that Lee, as a great man, will show great magnanimity," Lin said.
Lin said that the prosecutor was to propose a bail of NT$50,000, but Shih had difficulty paying the amount so the prosecutor lowered the price.
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