MOJ offers help to family of possible wrongful execution victim
ROC Central News Agency
2011/02/01 21:32:46
By Tang Hsiao-tien, Emmanuelle Tzeng and Hermia Lin
Taipei, Feb. 1 (CNA) The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) promised on Tuesday to help the family of Air Force private Chiang Kuo-ching appeal his possible wrongful execution in a rape-murder case 15 years ago and file a claim for compensation.
MOJ Deputy Minister Chen Shou-huang said the ministry has been instructed by President Ma Ying-jeou to help deal with follow-up issues regarding Chiang's case.
The president on Tuesday extended a personal apology to Chiang's family and promised that the government would pursue justice for Chiang, a serviceman who was executed for his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl at the Air Force Combat Command in Taipei in 1996.
Evidence uncovered by prosecutors suggests that Chiang's case may have been mishandled by military officers at the time and that he was executed despite not being involved in the murder.
One of Chiang's military colleagues at the time, now thought by prosecutors to be the true killer, was arrested Friday and taken into custody.
Chen said the MOJ will first help Chiang's family file an appeal with the Military High Court to retry the case. Then, if the court finds Chiang not guilty, the ministry will back Chiang's family in claiming up to NT$30 million (US$1.035 million) in compensation.
But Greg Yo, one of the lawyers responsible for Chiang's case, said the assistance offered by the MOJ was inadequate, and he called on the president to have the Ministry of National Defense first negotiate the terms of compensation with Chiang's family, given that courts usually take a long time to close cases.
He said Chiang's family has suffered a lot during the past 15 years and asked the government to end the family's misery as soon as possible.
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