Writer Wang Yun Gets 12 Years in Temple Death Case; High Court Orders 3-Month Detention
Writer Wang Yun (born Wang Jiangzhen) was sentenced to 12 years in prison at first instance for his involvement in a fatal incident at a Taipei Buddhist temple. The Taiwan High Court on June 3 ordered his detention for three months, citing flight risk. His lawyers argue procedural violations.
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- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 22:01
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(Central News Agency, reporter Xie Junlin, Taipei, June 3) Writer Wang Yun (born Wang Jiangzhen), involved in a fatal case at a Taipei Buddhist temple, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at first instance. The case was transferred to the Taiwan High Court, which held a hearing today. The detained Wang Yun claimed he could not bear the physical and mental strain and sought bail, but the judge ruled that detention was necessary and ordered a three-month detention.
During the hearing, Wang Yun denied the crime, arguing that the prosecutor's appeal was groundless, and requested the judge to grant him bail, stating that he had been detained for over 500 days and, at 70 years old, could no longer endure the physical and mental strain, leaving other responses to his lawyer.
Wang Yun's lawyer stated that Wang received the first-instance verdict from the Taipei District Court on May 18, with the appeal deadline being June 7. He had planned to file an appeal notice with the Taipei District Court tomorrow or the day after, but unexpectedly learned today that the Taipei District Court had already transferred the case to the second-instance Taiwan High Court. The lawyer said that the Taipei District Court, solely because Wang's detention period was about to expire, transferred the case today without waiting for the appeal period to end, disregarding Wang's right to appeal, and that the procedure was illegal.
The lawyer stated that after the first-instance verdict, Wang applied for bail pending appeal but has not yet received a decision on approval or denial. He argued that the Taipei District Court's actions were unlawful and inappropriate, and requested that the High Court not accept the case and return it to the Taipei District Court.
The lawyer argued that the first-instance investigation was incomplete, and the cause of the victim, Ms. Tsai's, rhabdomyolysis could not rule out the high possibility of heatstroke. He said Wang Yun cooperated with the judicial investigation, posed no flight risk, had compensated nearly NT$10 million, and reached a settlement with the victim's family, thus lacking grounds for detention. The court could use bail, custodial transfer, or bans on leaving the country or going to sea to ensure Wang did not abscond, and requested the High Court to grant bail.
According to the first-instance verdict, Wang Yun initiated a "review" on the grounds that Ms. Tsai had mishandled a lawsuit regarding the division of marital property. Although Ms. Tsai expressed remorse, knelt and kowtowed to the abbess Wu Huizhu before shaving her head and becoming a nun, Wang Yun deemed it insufficient and continued to interrogate Ms. Tsai at the Shuiyue Caotang. During this time, Ms. Tsai was struck and beaten by followers, losing consciousness, but the group delayed calling an ambulance for an extended period. Because Ms. Tsai showed no signs of life, she was not transported, resulting in her death.
The first instance sentenced Wang Yun to 12 years for negligent homicide. Entertainer Li Wei and his wife, having reached a settlement with the victim's family, were sentenced to 1 year and 10 months and 1 year and 8 months, respectively, both with a 5-year suspended sentence. The other 10 followers received sentences ranging from 1 year and 6 months to 10 years. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1150603
During the hearing, Wang Yun denied the crime, arguing that the prosecutor's appeal was groundless, and requested the judge to grant him bail, stating that he had been detained for over 500 days and, at 70 years old, could no longer endure the physical and mental strain, leaving other responses to his lawyer.
Wang Yun's lawyer stated that Wang received the first-instance verdict from the Taipei District Court on May 18, with the appeal deadline being June 7. He had planned to file an appeal notice with the Taipei District Court tomorrow or the day after, but unexpectedly learned today that the Taipei District Court had already transferred the case to the second-instance Taiwan High Court. The lawyer said that the Taipei District Court, solely because Wang's detention period was about to expire, transferred the case today without waiting for the appeal period to end, disregarding Wang's right to appeal, and that the procedure was illegal.
The lawyer stated that after the first-instance verdict, Wang applied for bail pending appeal but has not yet received a decision on approval or denial. He argued that the Taipei District Court's actions were unlawful and inappropriate, and requested that the High Court not accept the case and return it to the Taipei District Court.
The lawyer argued that the first-instance investigation was incomplete, and the cause of the victim, Ms. Tsai's, rhabdomyolysis could not rule out the high possibility of heatstroke. He said Wang Yun cooperated with the judicial investigation, posed no flight risk, had compensated nearly NT$10 million, and reached a settlement with the victim's family, thus lacking grounds for detention. The court could use bail, custodial transfer, or bans on leaving the country or going to sea to ensure Wang did not abscond, and requested the High Court to grant bail.
According to the first-instance verdict, Wang Yun initiated a "review" on the grounds that Ms. Tsai had mishandled a lawsuit regarding the division of marital property. Although Ms. Tsai expressed remorse, knelt and kowtowed to the abbess Wu Huizhu before shaving her head and becoming a nun, Wang Yun deemed it insufficient and continued to interrogate Ms. Tsai at the Shuiyue Caotang. During this time, Ms. Tsai was struck and beaten by followers, losing consciousness, but the group delayed calling an ambulance for an extended period. Because Ms. Tsai showed no signs of life, she was not transported, resulting in her death.
The first instance sentenced Wang Yun to 12 years for negligent homicide. Entertainer Li Wei and his wife, having reached a settlement with the victim's family, were sentenced to 1 year and 10 months and 1 year and 8 months, respectively, both with a 5-year suspended sentence. The other 10 followers received sentences ranging from 1 year and 6 months to 10 years. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1150603