The Ministry of Justice’s policy of reducing the use of the death penalty while respecting existing laws has not changed, Justice Minister Tseng Yung-fu said Oct. 27.
Tseng’s comments came after a story published the same day in the local Chinese-language United Daily News said that there had been a major reversal in the MOJ’s policy on the issue. The news article pointed to the ministry’s first-ever human rights report, set to be published early next year, in which it recommends that prosecutors refrain from seeking the death penalty for criminal defendants.
In response, during an interpellation session at the Legislature, Tseng said, “There has been no change in our policy. We respect current laws and will carry out executions when the courts pass such verdicts, but we will work to try to lessen the use of capital punishment.”
Asked by an opposition lawmaker how the ministry would do this, Tseng said prosecutors would be asked to carefully assess whether to request the death penalty in relevant criminal cases.
On whether the 51 prisoners currently on death row would be executed, Tseng stressed that public opinion polls show that a majority of Taiwan citizens still support capital punishment.
“The executions will be carried out after the review processes for each case have been completed,” Tseng said. (SB)