Taipei Tenant Kills Sub-landlord, Sentenced to 19 Years Final
A 68-year-old tenant in Taipei's Wanhua District was sentenced to 19 years in prison for murdering his 78-year-old sub-landlord with scissors and a kitchen knife over a debt dispute. The Supreme Court rejected the final appeal.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 12, 2026 at 12:42
- 🔍 Collected: June 12, 2026 at 12:59 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 12, 2026 at 13:00 (1 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, reporter Xie Junlin, Taipei 12th) Chen Jincai, a 68-year-old tenant in Taipei's Wanhua District, had a debt dispute with his 78-year-old sub-landlord, a man surnamed Yan. Chen attacked Yan with scissors and a kitchen knife, inflicting at least 297 wounds, causing Yan's death. Both the first and second trials sentenced Chen to 19 years in prison for murder. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal yesterday, finalizing the sentence.
According to court documents, Chen rented a room in an apartment from the blind 78-year-old Yan in 2021 and 2022 through the mediation of the Taipei City Government's Social Affairs Bureau, and they lived together. Chen had a gambling habit and frequently borrowed money from Yan. On the evening of June 8, 2024, Yan admonished Chen for going to gamble immediately after receiving his social assistance payment and demanded early repayment of the debt, leading to an argument.
The judgment stated that Chen was dissatisfied after the argument. The next morning, he went to Yan's room with scissors to argue, and they quarreled again. Chen became enraged and developed murderous intent, attacking Yan with scissors. As Yan retreated to the kitchen, Chen picked up a kitchen knife and slashed at him. Yan suffered at least 259 knife wounds and about 38 scissor wounds, causing hemorrhagic shock and death at the scene.
After trial by the Citizen Judges Court of the Taipei District Court, the first instance considered Chen's confession and voluntary surrender, which allowed for a reduced sentence. However, given the heinous nature of the crime, the lack of settlement with the victim's family, and the low possibility of social reintegration, the court sentenced him to 19 years in prison and ordered the confiscation of the kitchen knife.
The case was appealed to the Taiwan High Court. The High Court held that the sentencing by the first instance was decided through joint deliberation by citizen judges and professional judges, reflecting the public's legitimate legal sentiment and should be highly respected. The first-instance judgment did not violate the rules of experience or logic, nor did it overlook any extremely important sentencing facts, and was deemed appropriate. Chen's appeal claiming the sentence was too heavy was rejected.
Chen appealed to the Supreme Court, which reviewed the case and found no errors in the original judgment's fact-finding or application of the law, and the sentencing was appropriate. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal yesterday, finalizing the case. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150612
According to court documents, Chen rented a room in an apartment from the blind 78-year-old Yan in 2021 and 2022 through the mediation of the Taipei City Government's Social Affairs Bureau, and they lived together. Chen had a gambling habit and frequently borrowed money from Yan. On the evening of June 8, 2024, Yan admonished Chen for going to gamble immediately after receiving his social assistance payment and demanded early repayment of the debt, leading to an argument.
The judgment stated that Chen was dissatisfied after the argument. The next morning, he went to Yan's room with scissors to argue, and they quarreled again. Chen became enraged and developed murderous intent, attacking Yan with scissors. As Yan retreated to the kitchen, Chen picked up a kitchen knife and slashed at him. Yan suffered at least 259 knife wounds and about 38 scissor wounds, causing hemorrhagic shock and death at the scene.
After trial by the Citizen Judges Court of the Taipei District Court, the first instance considered Chen's confession and voluntary surrender, which allowed for a reduced sentence. However, given the heinous nature of the crime, the lack of settlement with the victim's family, and the low possibility of social reintegration, the court sentenced him to 19 years in prison and ordered the confiscation of the kitchen knife.
The case was appealed to the Taiwan High Court. The High Court held that the sentencing by the first instance was decided through joint deliberation by citizen judges and professional judges, reflecting the public's legitimate legal sentiment and should be highly respected. The first-instance judgment did not violate the rules of experience or logic, nor did it overlook any extremely important sentencing facts, and was deemed appropriate. Chen's appeal claiming the sentence was too heavy was rejected.
Chen appealed to the Supreme Court, which reviewed the case and found no errors in the original judgment's fact-finding or application of the law, and the sentencing was appropriate. The Supreme Court rejected the appeal yesterday, finalizing the case. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150612
FAQ
What is the summary of this case?
A 68-year-old tenant in Taipei's Wanhua District murdered his 78-year-old sub-landlord over a debt dispute. The Supreme Court upheld a 19-year sentence.
What was the motive?
The tenant had a gambling habit and owed money to the sub-landlord. He resented being urged to repay the debt.
Why was the sentence 19 years?
Despite voluntary surrender, the crime was deemed heinous, with no settlement with the family and low rehabilitation prospects.