A man from Kaohsiung has been sentenced to four months in prison for sending a threatening letter and two goat testicles to Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), which the Taipei District Court on Thursday ruled was a crime.
Chuang Shun-kui (莊訓貴), who disapproved of Hau’s implementation of a two-step process in Taipei for a referendum vote and the legislative elections earlier this year, sent the letter and testicles to Taipei City Hall last November with the intent of frightening Hau and his staff, the court found.
The prison sentence can be converted to a fine and is subject to appeal.
Chuang denied that he intended to threaten Hau, arguing that he had exercised his freedom of speech to protest the mayor’s decision. He also contended that, as the testicles were edible, they should not frighten anyone.
Hau testified that the letter had indeed triggered fears in his office, but expressed his respect for Chuang’s differing opinions and said he had no intention to press charges against Chuang.
The court ruled that Chuang expressed his discontent in an irrational way and showed no remorse for his actions, and therefore should be sentenced to four months’ imprisonment.
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