Defense Ministry apologizes to executed soldier's family
ROC Central News Agency
2011/01/31 15:08:04
By Emannuelle Tseng and Deborah Kuo
Taipei, Jan. 31 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) formally apologized Monday to the family of late Air Force private Chiang Kuo-ching for its mishandling of a rape-murder case that led to the soldier's wrongful execution more than 10 years ago.
The ministry offered its deepest possible apology to the Chiang family for the military's bungling of the case and the negligence of military personnel that caused irreparable loss to the soldier and his family.
It promised to help Chiang's family seek compensation.
It was the second time that the MND had apologized in two days for killing Chiang for crimes he did not commit and for mishandling the case.
In a written statement, the MND issued an apology a day earlier for causing concern and turbulence in society because of its handling of the rape-murder case for which Chiang was wrongly executed in 1997.
In the statement, the ministry noted that the Military Supreme Court Prosecutors Office filed an extraordinary appeal with the Supreme Court May 20, 2010 to reopen the case.
The ministry vowed to cooperate fully in an ongoing investigation into whether Chiang was wrongfully executed and whether another soldier, Hsu Jung-chou, was the perpetrator in the rape and murder of a 5-year-old girl in September 1996.
Hsu is under investigation for his suspected involvement in the girl's murder. If he is found guilty, the MND will seek criminal punishment as well as administrative penalties for all those who were responsible for botching the case, the MND said.
In related news, opposition Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Huang Wei-cher called for President Ma Ying-jeou Monday to visit the Chiang family in person, or at least send a high-ranking official from the Presidential Office, in a show of government concern.
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