Taiwan and Thailand cooperation on Taoyuan Homicide Case

The Department of International and Cross-Strait Legal Affairs, Ministry of Justice (hereinafter referred to as “MOJ”) of Taiwan and the International Affairs Department of the Office of the Attorney General (hereinafter referred to as “OAG”) cooperate on the high-profile Taoyuan Homicide case. The two central authorities in charge of mutual legal assistance have been working closely since the two corpses of victims with Taiwan nationality and/or Thai nationality were discovered in a parking lot next to High Speed Rail in Taoyuan this June.

With the knowledge of the three defendants fled and being captured in Thailand, the case prosecutor of the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, with the assistance and consultation from and via the Department of International and Cross-Strait Legal Affairs, MOJ, timely submitted Request of Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance to Thailand in this June. Meanwhile, the Attorney General of Thailand appointed prosecutors to investigate this case in Thailand and submitted Request of Mutual Legal Assistance to Taiwan in August.

The Department of International and Cross-Strait Legal Affairs, MOJ of Taiwan and the International Affairs Department of the Office, OAG of Thailand have been communicating, coordinating and mutually consulting with each other in a close and timely fashion, in light of reassurance of the application and implementation of relevant laws and their respective attitudes toward this case in Thailand and Taiwan. With such close cooperation, the assistance from the competent authorities of both sides was able to be provided and delivered promptly and accurately.

With the assistance from the International Affairs Department of the Office, OAG of Thailand, Taiwan received relevant evidence in early August. The evidence requested by Thailand was later provided and delivered to the leading prosecutor Mr. Veeradej TRITASAVIT with the International Affairs Department of the Office, OAG of Thailand by the case prosecutor in Taiwan. The three suspects were prosecuted on September 9 respectively in Taiwan and in Thailand.

This specific case marks a groundbreaking legal cooperation and mutual assistance between Taiwan and Thailand. By cooperation with the International Affairs Department of the Office, OAG of Thailand, both Taiwan and Thailand successfully obtained admissible evidence to be used in trials. The MOJ of Taiwan extends sincere gratitude to the International Affairs Department of the Office, OAG of Thailand.

Prosecutor LI (left) with the Taiwan Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office and Prosecutor TRITASAVIT (right) appointed by the International Affairs Department, Office of Attorney General, in the process of delivering evidence.

Prosecutors and police officers of Taiwan and Thailand holding MLA meeting on this case in the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office.

Inspection of crime scenes.