Bootleg rice wine manufacturers could face murder charges rather than negligent homicide in connection with the deaths of people poisoned by contaminated rice rice, according to an a Ministry of Justice official who prefers to remain anonymous.
The official, a close aide to Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (陳定南), told the Taipei Times yesterday that Chen had raised the possibility of tougher penalties during a ministry meeting on Wednesday.
In previous cases, bootleg rice wine manufacturers and salesmen have been charged with negligent homicide under Article 276 of the Criminal Code.
The article states that a person who in the performance of his or her occupation commits the offence of negligently killing another by neglecting the degree of care required by such occupation shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than five years.
The aide quoted Chen as saying during the meeting that bootleggers "used methanol to produce their counterfeit wine. I believe that these people knew what would happen to a person who drinks counterfeit wine made with methanol."
According to the aide, Chen went on to say "Prosecutors could charge these people with murder if they have enough evidence because their behavior appears to me to amount to deliberate killing. There is no excuse for that."
Chen also emphasized the importance of cracking down on counterfeit rice wine since it is commonly used for cooking, especially in winter.
The Department of Health said that drinking bootleg wine made with methanol could either result in blindness or death.
Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp statistics show that almost 240 million bottles of rice wine were sold per month last year.
This year sales have dropped to 12 million per month, following the imposition of a NT$90 tax on 0.66cl bottles in accordance with the terms of Taiwan's accession to the WTO.
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