Singer Kui (邱軍) was sentenced to 10 years in prison today for negligent manslaughter while driving under the influence (DUI) and fleeing the scene of the crime.
At about 4am on Dec. 27, 2024, Kui was driving a white sedan on Xinyi Road in central Keelung when he crashed into two taxi drivers parked on the side of the road.
One of the taxi drivers later died of his injuries.
Photo: Lin Chia-tung, Taipei Times
Kui fled the scene and surrendered himself two days later.
In May last year, the Keelung District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Kui for a DUI causing death, which carries a sentence of more than three years, and hit-and-run causing death, which carries a sentence of one to seven years.
The Keelung District Court’s citizen judge panel held three days of hearings on the case and released its judgement at 1:10pm today after deliberations this morning.
As Kui had a prior DUI and reoffended within 10 years, the statutory minimum sentence is at least five years imprisonment, so his punishment was increased to eight years, presiding judge Chien Chih-lung (簡志龍) said.
For the offense of fleeing an accident that results in death, which carries a statutory penalty of one to seven years, he was sentenced to three years and six months, Chien said.
Kui said he respects the judicial process and has no issues with the ruling.
The 10-year sentence is not too harsh, he said, adding that he would do his best to reach a settlement with the victim’s family and continue to apologize.
Kui bowed twice, apologizing to the victim’s family and for the trouble he has caused.
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