Six years ago, Guang Da Xing No. 28 crew member Hung Shih-cheng was shot and killed by gunfire from the Philippine vessel in the high seas. On Sept. 18, a Philippine court convicted eight Philippine Coast Guard personnel of homicide. Over three years ago, the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office ordered the eight to pay compensation of NT$3.19 million in civil liability. They entrusted foreign affairs agencies to deliver the ruling, but has not gotten any response to date.
On Aug. 7, 2013, the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office and Philippine government released their respective findings in the investigation into the Guang Da Xing No. 28 incident and eight Philippine Coast Guard personnel were indicted. At the time, Philippine officials said they had already reached a restitution agreement with fisherman Hung Shih-cheng's family. In 2015, the Pingtung District Prosecutors Office ordered the eight defendants to pay civil liabilities of NT$3.19 million. There has been no response to date.
We can only ask them to appear. We only have the authority to enforce action on certain assets if they are in Taiwan. With regards to overseas assets, we currently still have to ask for mutual legal assistance to get any compensation.
The Pingtung District Prosecutors Office paid the sum to Hung's family before ordering the defendants to pay the amount. However, it only has jurisdiction in Taiwan and has no way to enforce the payment order. It has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for help.
We will continue to maintain close contact with Philippine prosecutors and monitor future developments and progress in this case. As the judicial process is still pending, we have no further comment on other details.
The office also indicted the eight defendants on homicide charges even though it had no way to subpoena them or make them appear in court in Taiwan. On Feb. 27, 2014, the office issued warrants with a statute of limitations of 37.5 years. Unfortunately, there is little chance of the warrants resulting in anything.