Cheng Chieh (鄭捷), the suspect in a stabbing rampage on Taipei’s Mass Rapid Transit system on May 21 last year, exhibits self-centered, narcissistic tendencies, along with other personality disorders, according to a recently released psychological assessment report.
Cheng’s lawyers applied to the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office for an official forensic psychological report after their client was charged with four counts of murder and 22 counts of attempted murder.
Prosecutors in July last year said that they would seek the death penalty.
Cheng’s defense team reportedly hoped the report would indicate whether Cheng could be reformed, a key element in their effort to avert the death penalty.
An expert who has read the report said the assessment did not give a clear conclusion on the possibility of reform.
He said its main finding seemed to indicate that “there is a possibility that Cheng could be reformed, but it would be very difficult.”
The report was compiled by Shen Sheng-ang (沈勝昂), a criminologist and professor at the Central Police University in Greater Taoyuan, based on interviews with and observations of Cheng, who is being held at a detention center in New Taipei City.
Cheng exhibits narcissistic and social alienation tendencies, according to the report, which states: “He is unable to establish and maintain close personal relationships with others.”
“In such people, when lacking positive interaction with people and society, it can easily lead to self-centered, immature and other antisocial behaviors,” the report says.
Shen said the report was based on more than 10 interviews with Cheng on different occasions over the past year.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
Shih Hsin University President Chen Ching-he (陳清河) yesterday issued a public apology for comments made in his commencement speech last week, stating that he has asked the school to suspend his duties and halt his wages for two months as a show of contrition. At the commencement ceremony on May 30, Chen said, “If you don’t manage your time well, or your own emotions, or your health, then I am telling every one of you — put a quick end to ‘you,’ because the world has no need for ‘you.’” The comments have sparked significant controversy online, and Chen through an open
RSS