The Justice Ministry executed death row inmate Huang Lin-kai (黃麟凱) by firing squad on Thursday evening, marking Taiwan’s first execution since 2020 and the first following the Constitutional Court’s ruling that upheld the death penalty.
Minister of Justice Cheng Ming-chien (鄭銘謙), who approved the execution, described Huang’s crimes as exceptionally heinous and cruel. Speaking on Friday, Cheng emphasized that the process strictly adhered to the Constitutional Court’s rigorous review standards and was conducted with great caution to uphold justice under the law.
Deputy Minister Huang Mou-hsin (黃謀信) stated that the 36 remaining death row cases must undergo review by the Prosecutor General, per the court’s guidelines. Cases without grounds for extraordinary appeals will then be referred to the Justice Ministry for further action.
President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), addressing the execution before attending a Taiwan Fund for Children and Families event in Taichung, called for public support of the Justice Ministry’s adherence to the law. He also expressed condolences to the victims’ family.
This execution is Taiwan’s first in nearly five years, the first under Lai’s presidency, and the first since the Constitutional Court reaffirmed the death penalty’s constitutionality, signaling a significant step in Taiwan’s judicial enforcement.