The truth behind the Tsai Hsueh-liang case must continue to be investigated — Press Conference on the Ministry of National Defense ordered to pay NT$1.48 million in compensation in the Tsai Hsueh-liang case.

At 11:00 AM today (April 15), the Taiwan High Court delivered the judgment in the case concerning Air Force Staff Sergeant Tsai Hsueh-liang, who died from a gunshot wound at a shooting range, under Docket No. 2013 Shang-Guo-Zi No. 12, ruling in partial favor of Tsai Hsueh-liang’s mother and ordering the Ministry of National Defense to pay Tsai Hsueh-liang’s mother NT$1,480,731 in state compensation. The family of Tsai Hsueh-liang and all members of the pro bono legal defense team express their highest respect to the three judges of the collegial panel—Chang Ching-wen, Wang Pen-yuan, and Fan Ming-ta—for their fair trial.

Tsai Hsueh-liang’s mother obtaining state compensation marks the first time in the seven years since the occurrence of this case that a state organ has directly addressed the injustice suffered by Tsai Hsueh-liang. Throughout the trial process of more than four years in this case, the defendants, the Air Force Command Headquarters and the Ministry of National Defense, continually obstructed the discovery of the truth; this judgment proves that the truth in the Tsai Hsueh-liang case is worth pursuing. In this regard, Tsai Hsueh-liang’s mother feels immensely comforted.

From the experiences of the Chiang Kuo-ching case, the Hung Chung-chiu case, and the Tsai Hsueh-liang case, it is known that the Ministry of National Defense lacks the ability and courage to investigate military injustices, and only through impartial judicial investigations can the truth be returned to the families of victims of military injustice. Although the Tsai Hsueh-liang case achieved a winning outcome in state compensation, the truth regarding criminal liability must still continue to be pursued; the Judicial Reform Foundation urges the relevant prosecutorial authorities to re-examine the Tsai Hsueh-liang case, uncover the truth, and uphold justice.

Parties Involved Yu Jui-min (Mother of Tsai Hsueh-liang)

Yu Ching-chuan (Sister of Tsai Hsueh-liang)

Attendees Legislator / Chen Tang-shan

Legislator / Chiu Chih-wei

Pro Bono Legal Defense Team for the Tsai Hsueh-liang Case / Attorney Lo Shih-hsiang

Pro Bono Legal Defense Team for the Tsai Hsueh-liang Case / Attorney Chen Cheng-chin

Pro Bono Legal Defense Team for the Tsai Hsueh-liang Case / Attorney Lee Yi-ting

Family Member of Military Injustice Victim / Uncle of Hung Chung-chiu, Hu Shih-ho

Family Members of Military Injustice Victim / Parents of Chen Chun-ming

Press Contacts Pro Bono Legal Defense Team for the Tsai Hsueh-liang Case / Attorney Chen Cheng-chin

Judicial Reform Foundation Executive Secretary / Lin Wei-ting