Migrant Worker Arrested for Drug-Impaired Driving, Miaoli Prosecutors Seek 1 Year 3 Months

(Central News Agency, reporter Guan Ruiping, Miaoli County, 11th) A Vietnamese migrant worker surnamed Ruan was stopped by police on the evening of May 20th while driving erratically on Tianwen Road in Zhunan Township, Miaoli County. Police found one packet of ketamine (gross weight 0.71 grams), six ketamine cigarettes, and a K-tray in his vehicle. A urine test later confirmed the presence of amphetamine, methamphetamine, norketamine, and ketamine at levels exceeding the standards set by the Executive Yuan. The case was transferred to the Miaoli District Prosecutors Office for investigation.

In a press release today, the Miaoli District Prosecutors Office stated that after questioning by prosecutor Chang Ya-chu, Ruan was suspected of committing the crime of driving a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs. Due to the severity of the suspicion and the risk of flight, a request for detention was made to the Miaoli District Court on the same day, which was approved. The case was quickly concluded and an indictment was filed today.

Considering that Ruan had a previous history of drug-impaired driving, and although no accidents had occurred, the prosecutor deemed that he showed disregard for public traffic safety. The prosecutor requested the court to impose a specific sentence of 1 year and 3 months in prison as punishment.

The Miaoli District Prosecutors Office stated that it will continue to follow the Ministry of Justice's 'Zero Tolerance for Drug-Impaired Driving' policy and the directives of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office's 'Special Project Meeting on Strengthening Drug-Impaired Driving Enforcement'. The office will adopt a law enforcement approach of 'strong investigation, strict prosecution, legal detention requests, requests for heavier sentences from the court, and careful consideration of whether to allow commutation of sentence to fines' for dangerous driving under the influence of drugs, demonstrating its determination to combat drug-impaired driving crimes and maintain public safety. (Editor: Zhang Yajing) 1150611