Police Commissioner's Son Charged in Assault on Suspected Thief, Sentenced to 55 Days Detention with 2-Year Suspended Sentence

(CNA, Taichung, July 4) Zhang Shaotang, son of National Police Agency Commissioner Zhang Rongxing, who runs a hot pot restaurant in Taichung, was charged after he and a friend, surnamed Hong, allegedly beat a suspected thief with a baseball bat and detained him for an hour when the thief broke into the restaurant. The Taichung District Court announced today that both defendants, Zhang and Hong, were sentenced to 55 days of detention, with both receiving a two-year suspended sentence. The ruling is subject to appeal.

Zhang Shaotang operates a hot pot restaurant on Meicun Road in Taichung City. Around 3 a.m. on April 11, he received a notification from the security system that a thief had broken in. He and his friend, surnamed Hong, returned to the restaurant to apprehend the suspect. A conflict ensued after they discovered the thief. The thief accused them of beating him with a baseball bat, burning his hands with hot soup, restricting his movement for an hour, and forcing him to sign a promissory note for one million New Taiwan dollars. Consequently, the thief filed charges for assault, unlawful restraint, and extortion.

Given that Zhang Shaotang's father is National Police Agency Commissioner Zhang Rongxing, the case attracted significant public attention after it broke. The Taichung District Court recently issued its verdict.

The Taichung District Court explained that the incident began when Zhang Shaotang, the restaurant owner, discovered the complainant had infiltrated the establishment to commit theft. Upon arriving with the defendant surnamed Hong, they did not immediately call the police. Instead, they used violent means, including beating with a baseball bat and pouring hot soup, to prevent the complainant from leaving for a full hour. The judge ruled that while the defendants sought to protect their property, their methods were excessive and did not meet the criteria for a reduced sentence under the Criminal Code's provision for "circumstances deserving of leniency."

The Taichung District Court stated that considering the two defendants confessed to their actions after the crime and have reached a settlement with the complainant, having actually compensated for the losses. The complainant has also expressed no intention to pursue further action and has withdrawn the assault charges. Therefore, the court sentenced both defendants to 55 days of detention for joint commission of unlawful restraint. If converted to a fine at a rate of NT$1,000 per day, both received a two-year suspended sentence, offering them an opportunity for rehabilitation. The case is still subject to appeal.

Regarding the theft at his son's restaurant and the subsequent charges filed by the thief, Zhang Rongxing previously stated that his son should be responsible for his own actions, that he would not cover for him, and that he had not interfered with the investigation, cooperating with and respecting the subsequent court proceedings. (Edited by Yang Sheng-ru, Huang Ming-hsi) 1150704

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