Taichung Luxury Home Torture Case: Main Suspect Sentenced to 14 Years in Second Trial

Central News Agency Report

(CNA reporter Su Mu-chun, Taichung, June 17) Two years ago in October, a man surnamed Liu from Taichung, over a dispute regarding expense reporting, conspired with friends to torture his assistant, surnamed Hsu, to death. In the first trial at the Taichung District Court's citizen tribunal, Liu was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, after an appeal, the Taichung High Court Branch reviewed the case and recently reduced the sentence to 14 years in the second trial. The ruling may still be appealed.

According to the prosecution's indictment, the 33-year-old Liu, formerly deputy head of the Taichung Sixth Police Precinct's Police Friendship Association, had hired Mr. Hsu as an assistant to handle daily administrative tasks.

In the early hours of October 18, 2024 (Minguo Year 113), Liu, frustrated by repeated arguments with Hsu over expense claims, initiated the attack at his luxury residence in the Qiqi redevelopment zone of Xitun District, Taichung City.

Liu, together with a 38-year-old friend also surnamed Liu, a 20-year-old assistant surnamed Shi, and a juvenile surnamed Lin, confined Hsu to a balcony inside the house. They stripped him naked, leaving only his underwear, and beat him with aluminum baseball bats, belts, and hammers.

Prosecutors stated that Liu and the others also stabbed Hsu with hex wrenches and sharp knives, burned him with a blowtorch lighter, forced him to ingest a toxic coffee packet, and continued torturing him with electric shock devices and air gun pellets, ultimately causing his death. After investigation, prosecutors charged the three adults with private imprisonment resulting in death due to torture, while the juvenile was referred to the juvenile court for separate proceedings.

The case was tried at the Taichung District Court's citizen tribunal, which in January sentenced the main suspect, Liu, to life imprisonment and lifelong deprivation of civil rights. The co-defendant surnamed Liu received 13 years and six months, and the co-defendant surnamed Shi received 12 years.

After appeal, the Taiwan High Court Taichung Branch reviewed the case. The panel considered that the three defendants had reached a mediation agreement with the victim's family during the trial and paid compensation, showing improved post-offense conduct.

On June 11, the Taichung High Court overturned the original verdict. The main suspect, Liu, was resentenced to 14 years in prison and eight years of civil rights deprivation. The co-defendant surnamed Liu received 12 years, and the co-defendant surnamed Shi received 10 years and six months. All sentences are subject to appeal. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150617