The mistaken arrest of the wrong man in a murder case demonstrates how the police disregard human rights in handling investigations, critics said yesterday.
Chen Jung-chi (
After being detained for three days, Chen was released on Monday night when police found out that he could not have been at the scene of the crime.
"The case reveals fatal flaws in the investigation process," said Sun Yi-hsin (孫一信), deputy secretary-general of the Association for Persons With Intellectual Disabilities.
"Either the police or prosecutors failed to abide by regulations concerning the protection of handicapped people's human rights," he said.
Article 31 of the Criminal Procedure Law (
"Police and prosecutors evidently violated the regulations [in Chen's case]," Sun said at a press conference held by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Jung-chang (
Hung Chieh-su (
"I felt sad that I couldn't help him [Chen] when he was in need of help," Hung said.
"He has a language disability and is unable to express himself well," she said.
Wang urged the police and prosecutors to implement regulations and measures to protect the handicapped so that the mistake does not get repeated.
At a separate setting yesterday, Premier Su Tseng-chang (
"Honestly, the police should admit they made a mistake and apologize," Su said.
"I must say, however, that their hard work on the case should also be recognized. Nonetheless, I would ask the police not to repeat their mistake in the future," he said.
Su did not elaborate on the potential punishment for police personnel involved in Chen's mistaken arrest.
"I would ask the police to launch an internal investigation on the issue," he said.
"I think that the high-ranking police officials should come up with the appropriate measures," he said.
Additional reporting by Jimmy Chuang
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