Security systems and procedures at the Hsinchu District Court are to be reviewed after a drug suspect briefly escaped from custody yesterday morning after a hearing.
The man, surnamed Wan (萬), broke free as two female bailiffs assigned to transport him were placing handcuffs and ankle shackles on him at the end of the hearing.
Wan ran out of the back of the courthouse into its garden, then climbed a fire-escape staircase to the second floor, where he climbed through an open window into the office of Hsinchu District Court President Chiang Te-chien (江德千).
Chiang said he was sitting at his desk going over court documents and did not notice Wan at first.
However, when Wan spotted the judge, he climbed back out of the window onto the balcony.
Chiang said Wan was panting, shaking and appeared nervous.
Several bailiffs then surrounded Wan and took him into custody.
Chiang said the incident highlighted the shortage of staff at the court.
“The Hsinchu District Court should be assigned from 75 to 150 bailiffs. However, we have only 31 bailiffs, including 11 women,” he said.”
“One female bailiff has privately said that the female bailiffs’ slight frames could be a problem if they are called upon to handle hefty male suspects, and that even two or three of them working together would be no match against a tough, heavyset criminal,” the judge said.
Courthouse security will be reviewed to determine whether there are shortcomings in the system, and if security procedures and equipment need to be enhanced, officials said.
Prosecutors said they would file charges against Wan for attempting to flee from custody.
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