What is happening to Taiwans law and enforcement?

Here is a case of a 32 year old guy who beat his 2 month old babygirl to death in Sept of 2007 and was sentenced to 20 years in jail by the Shilin district court. But was somehow out on bail and in Nov of 2008 beat his 3 month old baby boy (conceived around the time of the beating death of the daughter) to death in a similar fashion. This time he was sentenced only to 3 years and 8 months by the Banqiao district court. And apparently is in jail but "could be" allowed bail once again.

I don't understand why he was allowed bail for such a serious case as beating his 2 month old baby to death? And why he would even be considered bail in this case?

This news clip is from today so I wonder where he has been since 2008 November.

The news clip was wondering why he got such a short sentence.

Supposedly the beating deaths were not intentional and came because they were very poor.

Such malarky. His first sentence of 20 years was too lenient in my humble opinion and certainly he should not be allowed bail. He shouldnt be allowed out at all.

I hope this time he is sentenced to life in prison.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLT8VZxwPV4

As many of us who have been here for some time know, money is paramount in Taiwanese society! People in my classes always talk about how if they die in an aircrash their family will get a lot of cash, or the dead tycoon's fortune is fought over by the kids. etc etc. Tiger Wood's wife is going to get lots of "cheese" if they divorce. Any other factor in these situations is glossed over as totally secondary. It's the $$$$$$ that matters!

As an American I agree our legal system has some huge gaping holes, but if the public gets wind of certain cases and lax sentencing there is more of an outcry and something can be done about it. It is certainly not common to just pay a family off if you rape and kill their kid. I do not know of many serious murder cases where the person got such a light sentence. In Taiwan I hear about it quite often.

It did go from martial law to no law as far as I see it. Things went from tough to overly relaxed. Just like in the 50's, 60's kids were beaten in school now a 180 degree turnaround and kids often do whatever they want in class, no balance.

I know of a case where a girl in Keelung (Jilong) was robbed at knifepoint (her throat) in her own home and she knew the guy was from the neighborhood. The police found the guy but in less than 2 months he's on the street and lives 2 blocks away. That would make me want to move. In general I feel safe in Taiwan, but heaven forbid I have to use the legal system for a serious case. Especially as a foreigner.

My wife gets double the amount of my policy if I die in a plane crash. This isn't uncommon.

Back in the martial law days the guy would have been sent to the firing squad in an instant. I really hope Taiwan finds a midpoint between martial law and anarchy FAST. Otherwise I would have preferred living in China.

What she means is the kind of glee with which they say it, overpassing the pain such a tragic death may cause. It is as if your wife's first reaction was like jumping up and down because you bought the farm... Or hoping you get your arm cut at a work accident because you get the cash. I don't think so

My mother used to say some people in favelas let their kids play on the streets so they would be run over and then demand a lot of cash from the driver. From really poor and hardened people that would be sort of understandable but here in Taiwan teh conditions are not that desperate to have such... antivalues.

I come from a place where money buys you the get out of jail card. A relative who was a judge received constant visits from "concerned" parents demanding the release of their "angels" -most of them minors, on drinking, driving and raping rampages- "because they came from a good family" -meaning they had money, my aunt used to say. Her refusal too many times got her demoted. Another relative who was a medical examiner also got nicely framed and fired for not lettings things slip. If honesty is punishable, what's the point?

Another news article brings another question.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2010 ... er-who.htm

"A woman, surnamed Chien, who killed her baby with 51 stabs, was sentenced to seven years in prison and was deprived of her civil rights for three years yesterday by the Court of Appeal of the Taiwan Supreme Court yesterday. Her original sentence was 15 years in prison and deprivation of her civil rights for seven years."

How exactly does the court deprive someone of their civil rights? What exactly does it entail to have one's civil rights deprived?

I am thinking the deprivation of civil rights means no right to vote or to hold government jobs? I am not so clear on what that means.

How the hell do you stab your own child, let alone your own baby 51 times????

and isn't 7 years liberal??? Shouldn't it be life or atleast a sizeable portion of it.

You pick up a bladed weapon, insert into child and withdraw blade, repeat action and count to 51?