A National Taiwan University (NTU) student apologized yesterday for blocking an ambulance rushing a seriously ill woman to the hospital late last month.
Hsiao Ming-li (蕭明禮), a doctoral candidate at NTU’s Graduate Institute of History, offered his apology 10 days after the incident through a letter made public by the Central News Agency after his actions, caught on video and played repeatedly by local media, incited widespread public outrage.
Hsiao voiced “deep sorrow and profound regret” for his “childish” and “unpardonable” behavior, but ascribed it to “manic-depressive psychosis” he suffered on hearing the ambulance’s siren.
Hsiao added that he is also willing to do voluntary work to give something back to the community and to accept the result of a judicial investigation.
“I will conduct self-examination and face up to the result of the probe,” he added.
Hsiao expressed remorse to the family of the 86-aged woman, who died shortly after being rushed to the hospital.
The 33-year-old Hsiao was accused of deliberately blocking the ambulance carrying the woman in Sindian (新店), New Taipei City (新北市) on Dec. 24.
Video footage also showed him flipping his middle finger at the ambulance after blocking it.
NTU dean of student affairs Joyce Feng (馮燕) said the university’s disciplinary committee would decide how to deal with Hsiao once the judicial investigation is wrapped up.
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