In the trial of 16 of the 66 people accused of involvement in the 2014 murder of a police detective outside a Taipei nightclub, the Taipei District Court yesterday found all 16 defendants guilty, with differing levels of culpability.
Found guilty of murder, Hsu Chun-kai (許淳凱) received the heaviest punishment, with a 13-year term.
Tseng Wei-hao (曾威豪) and his girlfriend, Liu Hsin-tung (劉芯彤), were found guilty of inflicting bodily injury resulting in death, and were given eight-and-a-half-year and nine-year sentences respectively.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Hsiao Jui-hung (蕭叡鴻), who telephoned alleged members of criminal gangs and other acquaintances and told them to come to the Spark ATT nightclub in Taipei’s Xinyi District (信義) during the incident, was found guilty of gathering a crowd to engage in affray and inflicting bodily injury resulting in death and given a nine-and-a-half-year sentence.
Three associates of Hsiao’s, Wan Shao-cheng (萬少丞), Yi Pao-hung (易寶宏) and Chang Po-an (張博安), were found guilty on the same charges as Hsiao and given jail terms of eight years and four months; eight years and seven-and-a-half years respectively.
Off-duty police detective Hsueh Chen-kuo (薛貞國), who was at a nearby establishment eating dinner with friends, was called to a crowd disturbance in front of the Spark ATT nightclub on the night of Sept. 13, 2014. In the ensuing confrontation, Hsueh was beaten and died the following morning.
Hsiao is reportedly one of the leaders of the “He Tang” (和堂) chapter of the Bamboo Union (竹聯幫), a well-known triad.
After months of investigation, a total of 66 people suspected of involvement in the incident were charged. It was reported that among the suspects were members of two major triads, the Bamboo Union, and the Four Seas Gang (四海幫).
There was controversy over yesterday’s ruling, with Hsueh’s family saying the sentences handed out were too lenient, and complaining that the main instigators of the crime were not accused of murder. The family’s lawyer vowed to appeal the ruling.
“Even the most severe punishment cannot revive my husband’s life. Our family has already paid the ultimate price, and we ask the judiciary to give us justice,” Hsueh’s wife said after the court’s announcement.
The Hsueh family’s lawyer, Chou Wu-jung (周武榮), said some of the suspects committed very serious offenses, but they showed no regret afterward and did not offer to pay compensation, so the family is not satisfied with the sentencing and will appeal to a higher court.
Of the 66 suspects charged, 48 reached settlements with Hsueh’s family, offering financial compensation totalling NT$36 million (US$1.11 million). All are on a long-term installment basis, with one to take 41 years.
However, some of the suspects have not made the agreed-upon payments, Chou said.
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