Lai pardons elderly woman who suffocated disabled son

Lai pardons elderly woman who suffocated disabled son

2026-02-12

An elderly woman who killed her disabled son three years ago has been pardoned by President Lai Ching-te. The woman is a resident of Taipei in her 80s, whose son had cerebral palsy. In 2023, she was diagnosed with Covid and decided to suffocate her son, fearing that he would not be cared for after her death. The court handed her a lenient prison sentence of two and a half years, as she handed herself in and the case had drawn significant sympathy. The presidential pardon will exempt her from serving her sentence, though her conviction will remain on record. Let’s hear more.

Karen Kuo
Presidential Office Spokesperson
In accordance with the Constitution of the ROC and the relevant provisions of the Amnesty Act, President Lai has approved a special pardon for Ms. Lin Liu Lung-tzu, exempting her from imprisonment.

Voice of Tu Chun-chien
Woman’s lawyer
The process was coordinated with Ho Chih-wei, the deputy secretary-general of the Presidential Office, as he was more familiar with the details of the case. But since this is the first case of its kind in our country, there were some legal controversies, and so it was handled with utmost caution. It’s hard to feel joy over this special pardon after having lost her son. After all, not having to serve a prison sentence is not really something to be celebrated. But I do think she feels comforted that someone recognized the hardships she endured raising her son for more than 50 years.

The chief prosecutor of the Taipei District Prosecutors Office delivered the special certificate in person to Lin Liu. But her lawyer says that, although she has been pardoned, the moment must have been complicated. The case has also drawn attention to the issue of long-term care in Taiwan, especially on the hard work and resources that caregivers require.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#tragedy #sad #pardon #legal

八旬婦悶死癱瘓兒賴總統"情堪憫恕"批示特赦

2026-02-12

農曆年前，總統批示特赦令！台北市一名八旬老婦人，三年前因為確診肺炎，擔心腦麻兒子，在她過世後沒人照顧，將兒子悶死，法官審理後，認為婦人自首，加上犯案情節值得憐憫，減刑輕判兩年半，同時建請總統特赦，全案上個月定讞，總統考量犯罪動機，採「免刑不免罪」方式，給予特赦。

[[總統府發言人郭雅慧]]
“賴總統是依據中華民國憲法，以及赦免法相關規定，批示同意特赦林劉龍子女士，免除發監執行”

[[聲源:老婦人委任律師杜俊謙]]
“在(總統府副秘書長何志偉)對接的過程，他當然就比較清楚個案的狀況，但是因為這一件第一個，我國的案例少，法律上又有一些爭議，其實處理的很謹慎。一個失去兒子的母親，她其實很難，因為(特赦)這件事情有什麼喜悅的表示，不用入監服刑這件事情，因為有人看見照顧小孩五十幾年媽媽的辛苦，我想她應該會覺得有一點欣慰”

北檢主任檢察官，更是親自將特赦證明書，送交八旬老婦人的手上。雖然獲得特赦，對於老婦人而言，勢必五味雜陳，也讓外界了解，長照背後，需要更多的資源，才能協助照顧者，走出困境。

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Highway Bureau to regulate window tinting from end of February

Many people in Taiwan tint their car windows to block out the heavy sun and protect their privacy. But some people tint them too heavily, only allowing 20 or 30% of light through, which increases the risk of accidents during bad weather and at night. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is implementing new regulations at the end of February requiring car windshields to allow at least 70% of light through.

Meng Chia-mei
FTV reporter
With a 20% window tint, you really can’t see anything. But switching to 40%, everything is clear when you’re sitting inside. Turning to the front, the windshield is at 70% and visibility is excellent regardless of wind or rain.

There’s a stark difference between different window tints. A 20% window tint, which allows 20% of light through, is so black it’s like a mirror. At 40% you can see clearly, but it takes at least 70% to ensure that nothing obstructs the driver’s vision. The Highway Bureau announced window tint guidelines in June last year and will implement the regulations at the end of February.

Liu Kuang-chih
Window tint business manager
Taiwanese people on the roads care more about privacy, so they sometimes want to tint the windshield to 20 or 30%. The difference between 20% and 70% is about the same as wearing sunglasses and taking them off. The difference is most obvious when driving in tunnels, when it’s raining, or around dusk when people are getting off of work.

When registering a standard car for the first time, windshields will now be required to let at least 70% of light through while the front side windows must let at least 40% through. The rules for taxis and vehicles designed for children are the same for windshields, but all side windows must let at least 40% through. Drivers could be fined NT$1,800 for breaking the rules and their license plate could be revoked if they fail to fix the problem after six months.

Chen Yen-po
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About 410,000 new cars annually will be subject to these regulations. It will be implemented as guidelines for vehicles already in use.

Lin Fu-shan
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For vehicles newly registered and inspected from Feb. 28, it will be easy to tell if the window tint does not have the proper certification mark. In such cases, the owner would be notified to return for an inspection.

Cars that meet window tint regulations would be given a certification label to be put on the lower-right corner of the passenger side front window. While the new regulations would not be applied retroactively, the Highway Bureau is advising all drivers to follow the guidelines to protect traffic safety.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Motorist questions getting ticket, finds she looked at wrong traffic light

A motorist in Kaohsiung recently received a ticket in the mail for running a red light at the intersection of Zhongzheng and Zhongshan roads. But she wasn’t sure what the issue was, as in the picture, the light in front was clearly green. Was it a mistake? She asked the police for clarification, who said they believe the light in the photo was actually for the following intersection.

This motorist stared at this traffic ticket for a long time, but she couldn’t make sense of it. In the photo, the light in front is clearly green. So what’s the issue?

Motorist
Got fined
I showed my dad, and he also didn’t see it at first, so we went to the police station to ask. I’m usually very cautious. I’m not the kind of person to run red lights.

She was driving home when she got this ticket for running a red light. Confused about the picture, she went to ask the police about it. Turns out she looked at the wrong light.

Chuang Shu-ting
FTV reporter
It happened at this moment, when the light turned red at the intersection of Zhongzheng Third and Zhongshan First roads. But the one at the following intersection was still green, so she kept on driving without knowing she was running a red.

When waiting at a stoplight, motorists usually don’t look at the signal right above them. The right signal is usually the one out in front. But at this intersection, the Kaohsiung Transportation Bureau said that installing another light would have been against regulations, as there would be too many poles. Therefore, the signal off diagonally to the left is the one to watch.

Motorist
Confused by traffic light
They don’t turn green at the same time, so I sometimes look at the wrong one.

Motorist
Confused by traffic light
It’s confusing. If the light ahead is green, I’ll think this one is also green and just drive ahead.

Many motorists misunderstand the signals at this intersection and think they have a green light. The woman who was fined said she was actually glad she got the citation and asked for clarification, because next time, she might have gotten into an accident.

Motorist
Got fined
I’m thankful to him. Since it wasn’t the police who saw it, it was reported by someone. If I had gotten hit... Thank goodness I’m all right.

Liu Chien-pang
Kaohsiung Transportation Bureau deputy director
The current configuration has the near light on the right and the far light on the left, which complies with regulations. However, considering the level design of the intersection, we have installed additional vertical lights on both directions of Zhongshan Road.

At this intersection, aside from the signal to the left, there’s also another light on the right beside the scooter lane. The bureau reminded motorists to mind the correct traffic signals for their own safety.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#traffic #trafficsafety #ticket #trafficticket #Kaohsiung #intersection #scooter #driving #redlight

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Hon Hai founder Terry Gou donates NT$300M for company lucky draw

This is probably the craziest company year-end party yet: on Thursday, Hon Hai threw theirs at Taipei Dome, with an attendance of more than 30,000. In 2025, the company turned record-high revenue of more than NT$8 trillion, and employees were rewarded accordingly with the largest-ever year-end bonuses, up 10% on average from the year before. What’s more, the founder, Terry Gou also gave NT$300 million of his own money toward an employee lucky draw, with 10 grand prizes of NT$10 million, and 1,000 of NT$200,000. It’s an exciting day for employees of the tech giant.

The crowd is rapturous at Hon Hai’s year-end party, in the form of a sporting competition. This year, the founder Terry Gou even gave NT$300 million out of his own pocket to hold an employee lucky draw, with 10 grand prizes of NT$10 million in cash, and 1,000 winners of NT$200,000.

This is the second year the company is holding the year-end sporting party at Taipei Dome, attended by more than 30,000, including employees and their families. On the day prior, employees received their year-end performance bonuses, on average 10% higher than last year. High performers even saw an increase of 16%.

Employee
Hon Hai
I’m very satisfied. It’s probably the biggest I’ve gotten in so many years, 22 years to be exact. We turned a very high revenue from AI servers and thanks to our client, Apple. So the company’s sharing its profits with us, and we’re really happy, too.

Hon Hai is rewarding employees for its record-high revenue in 2025, at more than NT$8 trillion. That’s more than a trillion higher than the previous year. The company chair Liu Young-way says the target for the coming year will be NT$9 trillion.

Liu Young-way
Hon Hai chair
We’re the top performer worldwide in AI server, with a global market share of more than 40%. Now, we have an American CEO who loves Taiwan most to prove that I’m not bluffing.

Jensen Huang
Nvidia CEO
A record year for Nvidia, a record year for Foxconn! With Foxconn, Nvidia can do the impossible. We’re cranking out the world’s most advanced AI supercomputers.

It’s also the second year for Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to give remarks at the year-end party of Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn.

Liu Young-way
Hon Hai chair
It looks like 2026 will be an even better year than 2025. I encourage everyone in the company to try their best and seize this opportunity.

The company also treated employees and guests to performances by top entertainers. It also hopes to do even better and reward employees accordingly a year from now.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#honhai #foxconn #techjobs #yearendparty #LNY

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Stench from stinky tofu shop prompts almost 150 complaints

A stinky tofu shop is selling tofu so smelly in Taipei that city authorities have had to step in. The shop is located in Dazhi, and is a branch from a famous chain from Hualien. Since its opening last year, the stench has caused residents to file numerous complaints with the city’s Department of Environmental Protection. Inspections revealed violations on six occasions, resulting in fines of NT$585,000 for the eatery. The case has only got more intense recently, after a neighbor alleged suffering so much stress from the unpleasant smell that they were almost bald from pulling out their hair. The shop was once again flagged by city authorities, which say they’ll impose more fines if the eatery doesn’t make improvements after the Lunar New Year. Let’s hear more.

Voice of Ho Tzu-hui
Taipei Department of Environmental Protection
On Feb. 9, 2025, we detected a 71 for a value in which the normal emission standard is 10. In accordance with the Air Pollution Control Act, the shop was fined NT$585,000 and a deadline was set for improvements. There is still some smell around the site, but the business has stated that they will relocate the exhaust and install carbon odor-removal filters. Installation is scheduled to be completed after the Lunar New Year.

Voice of local
Works nearby
They didn’t do anything to deal with the smell at first. It reeked. I work nearby, and even with the door closed, I can smell it. I had to buy an air purifier.

Voice of local
Lives nearby
If you open the door, the stairwell gets really stinky, and so does your home. It’s a terrible stench. At the building next door, they put up a sign down there. It has a huge impact on daily life. When they opened we just thought it was weird. Other shops don’t smell so bad! Why is that one so nasty!

At the shop, some changes have been made. The exhaust outlet has been relocated, and there is now an electrostatic oil fume treatment system and a water-washing machine. Inside the shop itself, there are also plasma odor-removal devices. But even that doesn’t seem to help, as residents have filed almost 150 complaints. The original stinky tofu shop back in Hualien’s Yuli Township was known for being stinky. But here in a densely populated area of the capital, the smell has sparked backlash.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Taipei Deputy Mayor walks back on 2023 remarks to run for New Taipei

Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan announced Wednesday afternoon on social media that he is resigning at the end of February to enter the New Taipei mayoral race. Prominent members of his party, the KMT had since come out in his support, including New Taipei Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan, who had expressed earlier his intention to run, and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih. However, the DPP remembers that Lee said in 2023, that he would’ve run for New Taipei mayor already if he wanted to. Only he would know what took him so long.

The morning after Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan announced his resignation and intention to run for New Taipei mayor, he gave a radio interview and thanked current New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih and Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan for their support.

Lee Shu-chuan
Taipei Deputy Mayor
Ho-jan was my head of education department when I was deputy commissioner of then-Taipei County. He’d always wanted to do more for New Taipei, and I’ve always encouraged him. Now I must thank him for being willing to help me.

Hou Yu-ih
New Taipei Mayor
We will fully support Lee Shu-chuan. We also thank Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan for his courage to shoulder this responsibility over this period of time.

Liu had earlier expressed his intention to run, but decided to yield to Lee after his announcement on Wednesday. Now that Lee appears to be the KMT’s preferred candidate, the first challenge will be how he should deal with a potential KMT-TPP cooperation, proposed earlier by the chairs of the two parties.

Lee Shu-chuan
Taipei Deputy Mayor
It will be a gentlemen’s game with him. Earlier, Chairman Huang Kuo-chang wanted to meet, but I declined at the time because, one, I had not decided to run, and two, I have yet to receive the KMT’s nomination.

Huang Kuo-chang
New Taipei mayoral candidate (TPP)
In the future, should Uncle Chuan be the one to run for the KMT, I will not be deputy mayor.

Prominent KMT members have since expressed support for Lee. But some may remember Lee’s remarks from 2023 suggesting that he won’t ever enter the New Taipei mayoral race.

- In the future, you could run for New Taipei mayor. Do you have any such plans?
- Good friends don’t push each other toward elections. I’ve reached retirement age. I would’ve run already if I wanted to. I’m dedicating my life to Taipei.
- So you’ll stay put in Taipei in the next three-and-a-half years?
- For that, you’ll have to ask the mayor.

Hung Chien-yi
Taipei City councilor (DPP)
Now that Chiang Wan-an has lost an arm and a leg, I really want to know how Chiang Wan-an, who’s been called a mama’s boy, is supposed to deal with all the city governance and administrative affairs going forward.

- In the past you said that you’d be running already if you wanted to. What made you consider running this time?

Only he would know why he decided to run despite having said otherwise in the past. For now, Lee only says he’ll respond to the public once his campaign officially starts in March.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwanpolitics #newtaipei #localelections #taiwan #mayor

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