Crime and punishment are topics that may play a role in Taiwan’s upcoming 2024 presidential election. A recent well-publicized case has brought that issue into the spotlight.
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A policeman expresses his concerns to President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) during her visit to a police station on Monday. He’s concerned about a recent case in which a young man convicted of killing a police officer may be transferred to a minimum security prison. Tsai also faced questions about the case from reporters on her way out. [sound clip]
The controversy stems from an amendment to prison laws that would bar violent criminals from being eligible for transfers to minimum security prisons, also called open prisons. The cabinet approved the amendment last September but it has been awaiting passage from the legislature ever since.
Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) addressed the issue. He says there is consensus on the matter and the amendment should be passed quickly.
The amendment’s delay has been criticized by all the candidates running in the 2024 presidential election.
Sitting Vice President and DPP presidential candidate Lai Ching-te (賴清德) says he hopes the amendment will pass soon to show the outside world that such outcomes are not acceptable.
But Foxconn founder and potential presidential candidate Terry Gou (郭台銘), whose own father was a police officer, posted a scathing criticism on Facebook. He asks why the ruling DPP party can’t pass the law if they are in the majority?
Taiwan People’s Party candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) had a similar criticism. He says if there is a problem with the law, fix it.
Some legislators say the delay comes from ongoing debates about the exact wording of the amendment. A vote may come as soon as this September, but during this election season, expect to hear about this topic again.