Judge Criticized for Releasing Sex Offender & Drug Trafficker, Duo Evaded Capture for Months

📋Case Background: The Bamboo Union's Dragon Hall, led by 'Brother Ghost' Chiu Chien-pang, was involved in smuggling over 5kg of heroin (market value approx. 40 million NTD). 11 individuals were detained, facing potential penalties of death or life imprisonment. 📋Controversial Judicial Decision: After Judge Liu of the Taipei District Court took over the case, he released 10 detained major offenders, citing their full confessions. He only imposed 'residence restrictions,' not even requiring bail or restrictions on leaving the country or sea. The clerk repeatedly confirmed, but the judge remained unmoved. 📋High-Risk Defendants Fled: Among them, 'Xiao Mao' Sun Tzu-yi and 'Shan Zhu' Tseng Jen-chieh were repeat offenders, already convicted of sex offenses and drug trafficking and awaiting execution of their sentences. After their release, they immediately vanished, remaining at large for 4 months and 9 months respectively, before being recaptured in March and late August this year. 📋Prosecution's Appeal Process: The prosecution swiftly filed an appeal. The appellate court overturned the original decision and remanded it for retrial. However, by the time Judge Liu held the new hearing, the two suspects had already fled. The court only added 'restrictions on leaving the country and sea' for the defendants present, which had no effect on the already escaped duo. The prosecution's second appeal was rejected. 📋Public Reaction: Police and prosecutors were stunned. A former prosecutor stated the action was highly unusual, while other judges felt it disregarded social safety. The Taipei District Court responded that the defendants had confessed their involvement and were mostly from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and whether to detain them was a core judicial decision. The Judicial Yuan stated it falls within the scope of individual case judgment. 📋Final Outcome: Both 'Xiao Mao' and 'Shan Zhu' have been apprehended and are currently serving their sentences. There are just too many of these dinosaur judges running wild, and then there's the 'Abolish the Death Penalty Alliance' specifically helping criminals get off the hook... With people like this causing trouble, it's no wonder Taiwan has become a paradise for criminals 🤬