POLITICAL MOTIVATION? Rights advocates questioned whether the government was trying to drum up support before elections by showing that it was carrying out justice
By Jason Pan / Staff reporter
Convicted murderer Lee Hung-chi (李宏基), who killed his ex-wife and their six-year-old
Deputy Minister of Justice Chen Ming-tang speaks at a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA
daughter, was yesterday afternoon executed by shooting in Kaohsiung.
It was the first execution sanctioned by Minister of Justice Tsai Ching-hsiang (蔡清祥) — 46 days since he took office on July 16 — and the first under the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) since she assumed the presidency on May 20, 2016.
Officials said 39-year-old Lee was informed of the Ministry of Justice’s approval to carry out the order earlier in the day before he was taken to the execution ground at Kaohsiung Second Prison, where he was shot in the heart from behind at 3:37pm.
In addition to the executioner, the process was watched by prosecutors, a coroner, the prison warden and security guards, Deputy Minister of Justice Chen Ming-tang (陳明堂) said in Taipei.
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