Four drug offenders were arrested yesterday, just a day after they walked free from prison in a selective commutation. Six others have been pronounced dead.
A total of 9,597 inmates were released on Monday as part of a commutation granted to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the end of the martial law. Among those who have benefitted from the statute were prisoners convicted on charges of illegal drug possession or sales, burglary, theft, fraud and homicide.
However, Sinjhuang Police Precinct Lieutenant Hung Jiunn-yi (洪俊義) said that four of the drug addicts were arrested by police yesterday, one of whom was found in a coma after using drugs in a restaurant bathroom.
PHOTO: CNA
Hung said that Hsu Hung-hua (
Hsu attended a welcome-home party thrown by his friends at a restaurant in Taipei County's Taishan Township (泰山), police said.
He entered the bathroom but didn't come out. About 15 minutes later, another guest entered the bathroom and found Hsu on the floor in a coma, police said.
Meanwhile, the National Police Agency (NPA) reported yesterday that six former inmates had been found dead.
NPA said one individual surnamed Wang (王) died of a heroin overdose at his Sinjhuang home only a few hours after he was released from the Hsinchu Prison on Monday.
Another, surnamed Yang (
Another, surnamed Ho (何), was found dead in a hotel room in Taitung yesterday morning. Police were still investigating the cause of death.
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