Owner of construction firm sentenced to 2 years for dumping renovation waste in cemetery

A construction company owner in New Taipei City has been sentenced to two years in prison for illegally dumping renovation waste in the Ruifang First Cemetery. Shih Chi-wei, the owner, was found guilty of violating the Waste Disposal Act.

The illegal dumping occurred in August 2024 when Shih was contracted to clear renovation debris from a demolition project in Taipei. To avoid legitimate disposal fees, he enlisted two friends, identified only as Lin and Li, to transport and dump the waste, including cement blocks and wood panels, into the cemetery.

While Shih claimed he was merely referring the job and unaware of his friends' lack of permits, evidence, including surveillance footage showing his truck and photos of the dumped waste sent to the client, indicated his direct involvement. The court noted Shih's repeated failure to appear and poor attitude following the offense.

In contrast, Lin and Li confessed to their roles, actively worked to restore the cemetery site, and showed remorse, leading to their six-month sentences, which are convertible to fines. They also forfeited their illicit earnings. The court confiscated their criminal proceeds, emphasizing the environmental damage caused by such illegal activities.