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Questions loom after gangster's release

Gangster Yang Shuang-wu leaving after reporting to the Kaohsiung Prosecutor's Office yesterday. PHOTO: CNA

Famous underworld figure Yang Shuang-wu (楊雙伍) was released from prison on Tuesday, leading to questions about whether he'd be leaving the country, whether such a move would be in violation of his parole and what government agency may rule on the matter.

Alarm bells started to ring after Yang was released on parole from Taipei Prison -- having served 12 years of a life sentence -- because he possesses dual Taiwanese-Japanese citizenship and prison officials have made it known to the public that he often spoke of visiting his mother in Japan.

Ministry of Justice officials clarified the situation yesterday.

"Yang is a parolee. According to the law, as a Kaohsiung resident, he is required to report to the local prosecutors' office within 24 hours after his release to begin a 10-year probation period as soon as prosecutors have assigned him a guardian," said Huang Cheng-nan (黃徵男), the director of the justice ministry's Department of Corrections (矯正司). "Whether to ban him from traveling outside the country during this period is a decision that is up to prosecutors."

Yang's first parole application was rejected two years ago, but the second attempt was successful and he was released around 3:30pm on Tuesday.

Yang, who is going to be 51 years old this Friday, shot Kao Ling-fong (高凌風), a famous pop star in Taiwan, in his hip in Kaohsiung in April, 1983. This case also made Yang one of the most wanted fugitives by the police.

According to prison officials, Yang has mentioned that visiting his 83-year-old Japanese mother would be the first thing after he is released.

The police said that Yang was involved in the entertainment business in Kaohsiung. Witnesses have said that the shooting was the result of a quarrel between them.

Kao later explained that the dispute occurred because he had promised Yang that he would be performing a show sponsored by Yang, but later decided to do another show instead.

After shooting Kao, Yang immediately fled to Tokyo, where his Japanese mother still lives today.

In 1987, Yang ended another business deal in violence. While negotiating the purchase of shares of a Tokyo casino held by gangster Liu Wei-min (劉偉民) in Tokyo, Yang murdered Liu and fellow gangster Wang Chen-hua (王鎮華) for refusing to accept his ?3 million offer.

Liu was then the leader of the Four Seas Gang (四海幫), one of Taiwan's most notorious organized crime groups,

Yang escaped to Thailand to avoid arrest from Japanese police in July, 1990 but was soon arrested by Thai police who then escorted him back to Taiwan. He has been detained ever since.

In 1994, the Supreme Court upheld the high court's decision to put him behind bars for life and made it a done deal.

Yang first began his life sentence at the Kaohsiung Prison. He once attempted to commit suicide by cutting his wrist with a blade in May of 1995. After the suicide attempt, justice officials decided move him to Taipei Prison where he stayed until Tuesday.

The Taipei Prison said that Yang had behaved well during the past nine years after guards put him in an one-man cell.

Asked whether Yang stands to be arrested if he were to visit Japan for the double murder of Liu and Wang, justice officials gave conflicting answers.
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