Court Orders Compensation for Family of Malaysian Student Killed in Taiwan
Taipei, Taiwan – A Taiwanese man convicted of murdering a Malaysian student was ordered by the Shilin District Court on Thursday to pay NT$6 million (approximately US$196,020) in compensation to the victim’s family. The court ruling comes after a civil lawsuit was filed by the parents of Chai, a 24-year-old university student from Malaysia, who was strangled to death in October 2022.
The defendant, Chen Po-yen (陳柏諺), who was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2024 for the murder, must pay NT$3,010,355 to the mother and NT$3,369,999 to the father, the court said. The amount will be subject to annual interest of 5 percent starting from August 2023.
The ruling can be appealed, and both the defendant and the victim’s family are entitled to request further legal recourse.
The Murder Case: Background and Trial
In January 2024, Chen, a 30-year-old Taiwanese man, was convicted of the murder of Chai, a Malaysian university student who was living in Taiwan at the time. According to police reports and court documents, Chen had transferred a sum of NT$99,999 into Chai’s account, expecting her to return a portion of the money. When she refused, Chen went to her rented apartment in Taipei in October 2022, where he suffocated her to death in a fit of rage.
The victim, Chai, had been a part-time model and social media live streamer in addition to her university studies. She had moved to Taiwan to pursue her academic career and had become well-known among her followers online.
The Shilin District Court in January found Chen guilty of murder, and the Taiwan High Court upheld the life sentence in June 2024. Despite this, the victim’s family pursued further legal action to seek compensation for their loss, culminating in the court’s ruling on Thursday.
Compensation Ordered by the Court
The Shilin District Court‘s decision to award over NT$6 million in compensation is an effort to provide some measure of justice to the grieving family of Chai. The compensation is split between NT$3,010,355 to be paid to Chai’s mother, and NT$3,369,999 to be given to her father. The amount will accrue interest at a rate of 5 percent annually, starting from August 2023, a common stipulation in Taiwanese civil lawsuits involving financial compensation.
Chen, who is currently serving his life sentence for murder, has not yet publicly commented on the ruling. However, he has the right to file an appeal should he wish to challenge the decision further.
Legal and Social Implications
The ruling is significant, not just in the context of this specific case, but also as it highlights the legal recourse available to families of crime victims in Taiwan. The compensation is a reminder that while criminal cases address the issue of guilt and punishment, civil courts can provide families with a form of financial restitution to help them cope with the loss.
The case also draws attention to the growing international nature of crime in Taiwan, as Chai, a Malaysian student, had traveled to Taiwan for academic and professional purposes. Taiwan’s criminal justice system has increasingly seen cases involving foreign nationals, with a focus on ensuring that foreign victims also receive justice.
Compensation and Legal Procedures: A Breakdown
| Payment to | Amount (NT$) | Interest Rate | Start Date for Interest | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chai’s Mother | 3,010,355 | 5% | August 2023 | Ordered |
| Chai’s Father | 3,369,999 | 5% | August 2023 | Ordered |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What was the reason behind the murder of Chai? | The murder occurred after the victim, Chai, refused to return part of NT$99,999 that Chen had transferred to her. |
| How much is the compensation for the victim’s family? | The court has ordered NT$6 million in total compensation, with NT$3,010,355 for the mother and NT$3,369,999 for the father. |
| When did the murder occur? | The murder took place in October 2022, and Chen was sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2024. |
| Can the defendant appeal the compensation ruling? | Yes, the ruling can be appealed, and both the defendant and the victim’s family have the right to challenge the decision in a higher court. |
| What was Chai’s occupation? | Chai was a university student studying in Taipei and worked as a part-time model and social media live streamer. |
Conclusion: A Long Road to Justice
While the life sentence for Chen Po-yen may have been the first step in delivering justice for Chai‘s murder, the court’s ruling to award NT$6 million in compensation offers the victim’s family a measure of financial restitution. This case underscores the importance of both criminal justice and civil recourse in Taiwan’s legal system, especially in cases involving foreign nationals.
The ruling also sheds light on the broader issue of violent crime and personal safety in Taiwan, particularly for foreign residents. It serves as a reminder of the rights of crime victims and their families to seek justice, both through criminal convictions and financial compensation.
