A Personal Statement from Zain Dean

[HooknSinker]

Are foreigners allowed to attend the trial/court proceedings? Some here might like to attend as a simple show of support. Better to draw some attention to the sick relationship between the Taiwan-yakuza, a corrupt police force, and a media so subverted it resembles a 50-cent wh*ore.

There but for the Grace of God go any of us. I think many foreigners would attend out of interest in ensuring that Zain gets a fair hearing, at court and at large.

Done right, it could turn into a seminal event in the history of the Forumosa community. These things are always hard to predict, but I'll suggest the potential is here.

[Northcoast Surfer]

Are foreigners allowed to attend the trial/court proceedings?

I would definitely like to go.

[sandman]

Criminal trials have a public gallery, but it depends on how many people want to rubberneck. If they think there will be too many (like for the Chen Shui-bian thing) they require you to get a permit in advance.

[I am a City Girl]

Criminal trials have a public gallery, but it depends on how many people want to rubberneck. If they think there will be too many (like for the Chen Shui-bian thing) they require you to get a permit in advance.

Generally speaking, apart from the case where the juvenile or sex offenses are involved, the trial is open to the public.

According to the news report about Mr. Dean's first trial on May 13, the Judge is 葉力旗, who is also one of Judges in Chen Shui Bian's appeal, from Taipei District Court.
His court room is No 10.
If you know Mr. Dean's case no, I can find out his next trial date for you from the court system, given some of you want to take a part in and show your support to Mr. Dean during the trial.

Taipei District Court Add: No.131, Bo-ai Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100　TEL:(02)23146871

[Northcoast Surfer]

Mr. Dean alleged that the Da'an police were less than honorable and was afraid that he wouldn't be treated fairly by them.

I then got changed into a suit, picked up my briefcase and went down the elevator to find the Da'an police waiting for me on the 1st floor. I asked if I could go to the Xinyi police station to make my statement and they refused. The reason I wanted to go to Xinyi not Da'an police station was very simple. After living in Taiwan for over 16 years, and having once been a reporter during the early years, I was fully aware of the reputation of Da'an (previous reports of SOME, not all, policemen working with underground gangs conducting illegal gambling, prostitution, etc) and I felt there was a strong chance I would not be treated fairly there. Also Xinyi was right next to my house, a 5 minute walk.

Apparently, Mr. Dean was correct regarding his assertion that the integrity of the Da'an police department is in question and that he might not be treated fairly by them. I wonder how many of the indicted officers in this story had a hand in investigating / interrogating / coercing / lying / setting up and framing Mr. Dean for the hit and run accident which tragically claimed Mr. Huang's life, for which Mr. Dean is innocent!

Police officers indicted on charges of bribery

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Prosecutors yesterday indicted six Taipei police officers on corruption charges for allegedly taking bribes from an illegal gambling operation, officials said.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office sought 11 to 12 years for the officers, all from the capital city's Da'an precinct, the officials said.

According to the indictment, the officers allegedly took NT$330,000 from the operators of an illegal gambling den between Oct. 2009 and March of this year.

One former police officer and four gambling operators were also charged in the case, the officials said.

The prosecutor in charge of the case, Kuo Yung-fa, launched an investigation in April into bribery allegations against the officers.

Kuo quickly concluded the probe and indicted all the suspects yesterday morning before reporting to his new job as a member of the Special Investigation Division (SID) — the anti-corruption task force under the Supreme Prosecutors Office.

The prosecution sought 12 years for one of the active officers, Chui Chi-ke, who also allegedly took protection money totaling NT$42,000 from a restaurant, and 11 years for the rest of the officers.

The gambling operation linked up with the officers through the former officer, the officials said.

The officers even helped the gambling operators find a place to host their operation, the officials alleged.

[RobinTaiwan]

Ah well... They will make fine taxi drivers...

[fenlander]

Mr. Dean alleged that the Da'an police were less than honorable and was afraid that he wouldn't be treated fairly by them.

I then got changed into a suit, picked up my briefcase and went down the elevator to find the Da'an police waiting for me on the 1st floor. I asked if I could go to the Xinyi police station to make my statement and they refused. The reason I wanted to go to Xinyi not Da'an police station was very simple. After living in Taiwan for over 16 years, and having once been a reporter during the early years, I was fully aware of the reputation of Da'an (previous reports of SOME, not all, policemen working with underground gangs conducting illegal gambling, prostitution, etc) and I felt there was a strong chance I would not be treated fairly there. Also Xinyi was right next to my house, a 5 minute walk.

Apparently, Mr. Dean was correct regarding his assertion that the integrity of the Da'an police department is in question and that he might not be treated fairly by them. I wonder how many of the indicted officers in this story had a hand in investigating / interrogating / coercing / lying / setting up and framing Mr. Dean for the hit and run accident which tragically claimed Mr. Huang's life, for which Mr. Dean is innocent!

Police officers indicted on charges of bribery

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Prosecutors yesterday indicted six Taipei police officers on corruption charges for allegedly taking bribes from an illegal gambling operation, officials said.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office sought 11 to 12 years for the officers, all from the capital city's Da'an precinct, the officials said.

According to the indictment, the officers allegedly took NT$330,000 from the operators of an illegal gambling den between Oct. 2009 and March of this year.

One former police officer and four gambling operators were also charged in the case, the officials said.

The prosecutor in charge of the case, Kuo Yung-fa, launched an investigation in April into bribery allegations against the officers.

Kuo quickly concluded the probe and indicted all the suspects yesterday morning before reporting to his new job as a member of the Special Investigation Division (SID) — the anti-corruption task force under the Supreme Prosecutors Office.

The prosecution sought 12 years for one of the active officers, Chui Chi-ke, who also allegedly took protection money totaling NT$42,000 from a restaurant, and 11 years for the rest of the officers.

The gambling operation linked up with the officers through the former officer, the officials said.

The officers even helped the gambling operators find a place to host their operation, the officials alleged.

Don't be riddiculous. On your logic everyone every one arrested in Da'an district should be set free because some officers from that very large precinct were found guilty of corruption. For your information most police officers do not spend their entire career in one district but are moved around so corrupt officers are everywhere and that includes every nation not jsut Taiwan such as the USA. New York police officers have also been found guilty of corruption what would that have to do with people gettting arrested in New York. The good news is that the corrupt officers were caught and found guilty. So if there was corruption in this case it will also be investigated, So far I have seen no indication or evidence to back that claim up.
You have not even been to watch the trial yet and you are saying the guy is innocent as it appears you are alleging because some Da'an officers were arrested for corruption. Just wait for the trial and see what evidence is presented in the case.

[RobinTaiwan]

Don't be riddiculous. On your logic everyone every one arrested in Da'an district should be set free because some officers from that very large precinct were found guilty of corruption.

I think you are not reading this as it was intended. I think his opinion is based on Mr. Dean statement which seems to strongly suggests that he is a victim of corruption himself. It's anyone's decision to believe Mr. Dean or not.

[fenlander]

Don't be riddiculous. On your logic everyone every one arrested in Da'an district should be set free because some officers from that very large precinct were found guilty of corruption.

I think you are not reading this as it was intended. I think his opinion is based on Mr. Dean statement which seems to strongly suggests that he is a victim of corruption himself. It's anyone's decision to believe Mr. Dean or not.

Well I like to base my decisions on evidence. So far I have not seen any against anyone apart from agaisnt Mr Dean including any proof whatsoever that he was set up by the cops. Innocent until proven guilty and that goes for the cops too. There is no evidence whatsoever that traffic cops set up MR Dean unless you can provide some? Then I will be in a state of shock. At the moment this looks like a pretty straight forward case. There were three people on the scene, and one is definitely lying either Mr Dean or the driver. As for conspiracy theorires about precint corruption over a hit and run case yah I find that riddiculous.

It is in my a theoretical possiblity that the other driver was lying. However as for police corruption in this case that is un my opinion riddiculous. Incompetence maybe corruption nah. Unless of course the driver was the son of the KTV owner or something along those lines but that does not appear to be the case.


So what do you think legal eagle?

[TainanCowboy]

Don't be riddiculous. On your logic everyone every one arrested in Da'an district should be set free because some officers from that very large precinct were found guilty of corruption. For your information most police officers do not spend their entire career in one district but are moved around so corrupt officers are everywhere and that includes every nation not jsut Taiwan such as the USA. New York police officers have also been found guilty of corruption what would that have to do with people gettting arrested in New York. The good news is that the corrupt officers were caught and found guilty. So if there was corruption in this case it will also be investigated, So far I have seen no indication or evidence to back that claim up.
You have not even been to watch the trial yet and you are saying the guy is innocent as it appears you are alleging because some Da'an officers were arrested for corruption. Just wait for the trial and see what evidence is presented in the case.

Fenlander -
To a point I agree with your sentiment.
However what might be applicable here is the showing of a continued pattern of dis-regard and acceptance of violations for standard police practices and an established and accepted pattern of disregard, obstruction and malfeasance of the laws when dealing with arrested persons.

If this were pursued and proven, or even shown to be a significant factor in the Da'an Police Bureau, then it is possible that given the right lawyering this evidence could be presented as relevant to Mr. Deans case.
Of course it would have to be established as actually relevant to his particular case, which might be a bit of a legal reach...But thats what lawyers are paid to do...make those legal reaches relevant for their clients.

And then there is that sticky bit of getting a judge to accept such evidence into their court and allow it to be used in this particular case.