Taiwanese Man Acquitted of Mother's Murder Awarded $91,000 Compensation After 739 Days Detained

A man in Nantou, Taiwan, Wang Zhongyi, has been acquitted of charges related to the murder of his mother for insurance fraud, a verdict that came after he spent 739 days in pre-trial detention. He has been awarded over 2.95 million New Taiwan dollars (approximately $91,000 USD) in criminal compensation for his wrongful detention.

The case dates back to October 2014, when Wang's mother drowned in the Zhongguaxi river in Guoxing Township, Nantou County. Investigators later found the remains of Wang's father in a riverbed after he had disappeared following a hospital visit for a serious illness. Prosecutors alleged Wang murdered both parents to claim insurance money.

While Wang was acquitted of charges related to his father's death due to insufficient evidence, he was initially sentenced to life imprisonment for his mother's death. However, after multiple retrials, he was ultimately found not guilty. The final acquittal was confirmed by the Supreme Court in late 2023. Wang's subsequent claim for criminal compensation highlighted the lengthy detention period and the perceived flaws in the investigation.

Adding to the controversy, Taiwan's Control Yuan released a report in January, detailing five significant shortcomings in the investigation by police and prosecutors. These included reliance on potentially coerced police interrogations, overlooking favorable expert testimonies, failing to consider both incriminating and exculpatory evidence, a forensic doctor commenting publicly on the case during trial, and suspected improper pressure during police questioning. The Control Yuan has urged the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency to review and improve their investigative practices.