Three men were yesterday handed prison sentences ranging from four years and eight months to nine years after being found guilty of assaulting a male university student following a traffic incident in 2021.
The Taichung District Court sentenced Chang Tun-liang (張敦量) to nine years in prison for attempted murder and coercion, and Lee Wei-lin (李韋霖) and Chen Ching-hao (陳勁豪) to four years and eight months in jail for coercion and aggravated assault.
The ruling can be appealed.
Photo: CNA
The three attacked a university student surnamed Sung (宋) after the right side of Sung’s vehicle hit the left side of the Maserati Lee was driving when Sung tried to switch to a slower lane on Taiwan Boulevard in Taichung on Nov. 7, 2021.
The Maserati was owned by Chang’s mother.
The two cars came to a stop, and the three suspects allegedly ordered Sung to exit his car before beating him on the sidewalk and threatening him not to report the incident to the authorities.
However, a passerby reported the incident as it was happening, and police took the three suspects in for questioning.
Sung fell into a coma and was diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhaging.
Sung’s mother said that she was dissatisfied with the ruling and would consult her lawyer about whether to ask prosecutors to file an appeal.
She accused the three suspects of not showing any willingness over the past year to be held accountable for their actions.
They tried to avoid reaching a settlement and often checked on Sung’s injuries, hoping that they were not serious or long-term, as that would affect compensation, she said.
Their actions left her and her son feeling like they were being “played” with, she said.
Since the incident, Sung often panics for no reason, his mother said, adding that he turns pale during the episodes, feels dizzy and vomits.
Her son is still undergoing rehabilitation, while she is still struggling to come to terms with the reality of the situation, she said.
Chang, who was 23 at the time of the incident, has been in detention since late 2021, while Lee, who was 25, and Chen, who was 19, were released on bail late last year.
During the trial, Chang pleaded guilty to assaulting and coercing Sung, but denied that he had attempted to murder Sung, saying he has apologized and asked to settle the case.
Chang’s lawyer said the two sides failed to reach a settlement after Sung’s family asked for NT$15 million (US$490,388) in compensation.
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