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6 armed inmates take warden, others hostage in Taiwan prison
Feb. 11, 2015 8:18 AM EST
Police have gathered outside the prison to help secure the release of the hostages(Getty)
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Six inmates took prison staff including the warden hostage, seized guns and ammunition, and demanded safe exit from a prison in southern Taiwan on Wednesday, authorities and local media reports said.
Authorities have not agreed to the demands of the inmates, who were holding Warden Chen Shih-chih and another prison official after the pair offered to swap themselves for earlier hostages, the Ministry of Justice said.
The inmates — serving long sentences for burglary, murder and drug crimes — also seized from the prison's armory four rifles, six handguns, and more than 200 bullets, the ministry said. Witnesses interviewed by private cable news station TVBS said gunshots were heard. Other reports said the shots were fired into the air.
Within hours, armed police had surrounded the prison in the port city of Kaohsiung, and authorities had called on relatives of the inmates to plea for the release of the hostages.
The felons demanded the police force be withdrawn and that two fully fueled vehicles be provided to allow them to leave in exchange for the safety of the detainees, but the ministry said it turned down the requests.
Authorities identified Cheng Li-teh as the man who led the confrontation. Cheng is a member of the well-known mafia-type organization Bamboo Union, and he is serving a 28½-year sentence for homicide, the justice ministry said. The other five are serving sentences ranging from 25 years to life.
The inmates used the need for medical care as a pretense to lure prison guards before kidnapping them, the official Central News Agency said. Other media reports suggested the move had been premeditated.
The Ministry of Justice said Chen, the prison warden, and Wang Shih-tsang, another prison official, offered to be hostages in exchange for earlier detainees.
President Ma Ying-jeou requested that authorities stay calm and ensure the safety of the hostages and of those on the scene, said Ma Wei-kuo, spokesman for the president's office.
Kaohsiung Prison inmates take warden hostage (update 3)
Central News Agency
2015-02-11 08:19 PM
Kaohsiung, Feb. 11 (CNA) Six inmates in Kaohsiung Prison armed themselves with guns and took several hostages including the warden, the Ministry of Justice confirmed Wednesday. There were no reports of injuries.
Under the pretense of seeking medical attention, they made claims of being mistreated in prison and found an opportunity to take an undisclosed number of prison officials hostage, bringing them to the prison's weapons cache where they stole four rifles and six handguns as well as over 200 bullets, according to Vice Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang.
Other reports, however, put the number of handguns at two. Deputy Warden Lai Chen-jung and head guard Wang Shih-tsang then offered to swap places with the hostages, Chen said. Warden Chen Shih-chih (no relation to the vice minister) then offered himself as a hostage in exchange for his deputy's release, leaving the hostage-takers with just Wang and Warden Chen at present, the vice minister said.
At a press conference just after 6:30, Vice Minister Chen added that the inmates are unable to escape through the main prison gates because of security mechanisms and confirmed they had fired several shots in the air as a warning before moving to a side door.
The inmates, who are serving sentences for various crimes including drug offenses, robbery, and murder, have demanded a getaway car, according to the vice minister. The alleged leader of the hostage-takers was identified as Cheng Li-te, the leader of a Kaohsiung chapter of Taiwan's infamous Bamboo Union crime group, who began serving a sentence of 28.5 years for murder in August, 2012, according to the prison.
By later in the evening, Kaohsiung's head of police, Chen Chia-chin (no relation), was at the scene directing police operations as dozens of officers gathered outside the doors of the prison. Police brought relatives of the inmates to plead with them to stand down as negotiators continued to try to defuse the situation.
Armed riot police gather outside the Kaohsiung Prison where the warden and a colleague were being held hostage. Photo: AFP
Hundreds of police last night surrounded Taiwan's Kaohsiung Prison, after six inmates armed with rifles and revolvers took the warden and a colleague hostage.
Taiwanese government confirmed this morning that all six inmates had committed suicide. The hostages, chief guard Wang Shih-tsang and warden Chen Shih-chih, were released and sustained no injury.
By midnight - eight hours after police had begun negotiations with the men - several gunshots had been fired, but no injuries reported. Police said the inmates were firing into the air.
At about 3:30am, the inmates released chief guard Wang. Multiple gunshots were sounded. There were rumours that four of the six inmates had committed suicide.
At about 4:45am, the inmates shot at police from a side entrance of the prison, Taiwanese media reported. Over 20 gunshots were heard, and police also returned fire.
At about 5:40am, all six inmates were reported to have committed suicide, ending the confrontation after 14 hours.
A handwritten letter from one inmate, demanding parole, was handed to a negotiator, the Central News Agency reported.
In the letter the inmate, surnamed Cheng, said it was unfair that former president Chen Shui-bian could be granted parole simply because of his political status. Chen was jailed for corruption in 2009, but granted parole last month on medical grounds. The inmate also complained that prison pay was only NT$200 (HK$50) per day and demanded an increase.
Security personnel stand guard outside the prison. Sharpshooters were deployed to nearby buildings, authorities said. Photo: Xinhua
The drama began when six inmates pretended they needed medical care, but instead rushed to the reception centre and took two prison guards hostage, said Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang.
The deputy warden and another prison official came to intervene, and they offered to take the place of the two guards being held hostage, Chen said.
The gang agreed, and then gained access to the room where the prison's weapons were kept. They took four rifles, six revolvers and more than 200 bullets.
Chen said the warden, Chen Shih-chih, offered to replace the deputy warden as hostage and the six then tried to escape through the main gate, but found it locked.
One of the inmates fired a warning shot in the air when police approached, Chen said.
Some 250 officers were last night stationed around the prison, and sharpshooters had been deployed to nearby buildings.
According to police, the inmates - all serving jail terms from 25 to 46 years - were led by Cheng Li-te, the leader of the Kaohsiung branch of the Bamboo Union Gang who was convicted on murder charges.
Police officers examine the bodies of hostage-takers this morning at Kaohsiung Prison in southern Taiwan. Photo: Reuters
A prison siege in Taiwan ended on Thursday morning after six armed inmates who had held a warden and a head guard hostage committed suicide by shooting themselves.
It followed a 14-hour stand-off at the jail in the south of the island, with hundreds of police and marksmen deployed around the prison.
The prisoners killed themselves after a shoot-out with police at Kaohsiung Prison, Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang told a news conference in Taipei.
“Four of them used handguns they seized from the prison to shoot themselves, while two others added several shots to make sure the four were dead before killing themselves with rifles also taken from the jail,” Chen said.
The two hostages were unharmed and there were no reports other injuries.
The prisoners had been convicted of murder, drug-related offences, burglary and a range of other crimes and were serving jail terms ranging from 25 to 46 years, said Chen Chia-chin, the head of the Kaohsiung police department.
Armed riot police gather outside the Kaohsiung Prison where the warden and a colleague were being held hostage. Photo: AFP
“As the inmates were all serving long sentences and knew there was little chance they could escape, they’d felt helpless,” he told reporters and this may have led them to kill themselves.
Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou said the inmates action in taking hostages was unacceptable, but he felt regret about the outcome of the siege and offered his condolences to the families of those who had died.
He also ordered the Justice Ministry to step up prison reforms within a week.
Armed riot police stand guard outside the prison. Photo: AFP
The siege started at about 4pm on Wednesday when inmate Cheng Li-te, the head of a Kaohsiung-based faction of the triad group the Bamboo Union Gang, led five other cellmates to the prison’s medical ward, claiming they needed treatment.
The six, who had worked at the prison’s sewing factory, had stolen a pair of scissors which they used as a weapon to threaten medical officers.
They took a key to the prison’s reception room, but found there was no way to escape from the area and took two guards hostage.
They then headed to the prison’s armoury where they seized four rifles, six handguns and more than 200 bullets.
Hundreds of police were called to surround the prison, Deputy Justice Minister Chen said, adding that the prison’s deputy warden, Lai Chen-jung, and the head guard, Wang Shih-tsang offered to swap places with the two junior staff and become hostages.
Head warden Chen Shih-chih later asked to exchange places with Lai and the gang agreed.
The prisoners, who had reportedly been protesting against unfair treatment, had demanded safe passage from the jail.
They tried to escape through the main gate, but found it locked and later went to a side gate where they encountered dozens of police officers and exchanged fire with them, Deputy Justice Minister Chen said.
No injuries were reported during the shoot-out and the inmates moved back to a prison office.
Security personnel stand guard outside the prison. Sharpshooters were deployed to nearby buildings, authorities said. Photo: Xinhua
About 250 officers were stationed around the prison and sharpshooters deployed in nearby buildings.
At about 3.30am the inmates released head guard Wang and multiple gunshots were heard.
Half an hour later, the inmates shot in the air as several local television companies tried to use aerial cameras to film the siege from above the prison, Chen said.
At about 5.40am, all six inmates committed suicide, he said.
Chen confirmed that a handwritten letter from Cheng, demanding parole, was handed to a negotiator earlier in the night.
Cheng said in the note that it was unfair that former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian had been granted parole simply because of his “political status”.
The former president was jailed for corruption in 2009, but granted parole last month on medical grounds.
The inmate also complained that prison pay was only NT$200 (HK$50) per day and demanded an increase.
The bodies of the inmates have been taken to a hospital in Kaohsiung for autopsies to be carried out.
Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou demands speedy reform after inmates commit suicide in prison siege
Taiwanese leader says hostage-taking incident by inmates exposed loopholes in prison system
Armed officers were deployed around the prison as inmate Cheng Li-te (right) led five of his cellmates in laying siege to the jailhouse.
Policemen stand guard over the bodies of the six inmates who took their own lives at Kaohsiung Prison early yesterday.Photos: Reuters, CNA
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has demanded speedy reform of the island's much-criticised prison conditions, after its first-ever jailhouse siege ended in the suicides of the six inmates who had been holding two prison officers hostage.
"The incident that has shocked the public exposes loopholes in our prison management system," Ma said yesterday, adding that he had ordered all correction agencies to be on high alert and to ensure that other inmates were not agitated by the case.
"The relevant agencies must work out a concrete reform plan within a week for swift implementation."
The siege in southern Taiwan's Kaohsiung Prison ended yesterday morning after the six armed inmates, who were holding hostage a warden and a head guard, took their own lives. Their deaths followed a 14-hour stand-off and a shoot-out with police.
The inmates had earlier complained of tough conditions, meagre pay for factory work, unfair treatment and especially their lack of hope for parole.
"The incident exposes the serious over-congestion of prison cells in Taiwan, the unstable emotions of the inmates because of a reduction of their chances to be released on parole, and inadequate manpower, facilities and budgets in all prisons across Taiwan," former Central Policy University head Yeh Yu-lan said, adding that the inmates committed suicide because they had no hope left in life.
The six inmates had been convicted of murder, burglary and drug-related offences, among other crimes, and were serving out lengthy jail terms of between 25 and 46 years.
"As they were all serving long sentences and knew there was little chance they could escape, they felt helpless," said Kaohsiung Police Department head Chen Chia-chin.
He added that the police had exercised caution in handling the siege, including restraining the use of firearms and granting the inmates' wishes, expressed during negotiations, to be served food, betel nut, beer and strong liquor. The two hostages were unharmed and there were no reports of injuries.
At a news conference in Taipei after the incident, Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang revealed details about the inmates' last moments.
"Four of them used handguns they had seized from the prison to shoot themselves, while two others added several shots to make sure that the four were dead before they killed themselves with rifles also taken from the jail," he said.
A delivery driver who was hiding in a toilet in the prison said he overheard the last two inmates saying "Sorry brother, I wish you peace wherever you are" before they counted to three and delivered the fatal shots at each other.
The truck driver, identified only by his surname Tsai, said he had been delivering goods at the prison when the siege started, and a prison officer had quickly ushered him into a nearby toilet and locked him in to keep him from getting hurt.
The siege started at about 4pm on Wednesday when inmate Cheng Li-te, head of a Kaohsiung-based faction of the Bamboo Union Gang triad, led five of his cellmates to the medical ward claiming they needed treatment.
The group, who worked at the prison's sewing factory, had stolen a pair of scissors, which they used to threaten the medical officers. They then made their way to the reception room and took two guards hostage after finding it a dead end. They headed to the armoury next, where they seized four rifles, six handguns and more than 200 bullets.
As hundreds of police officers surrounded the prison, deputy warden Lai Chen-jung and head guard Wang Shih-tsang offered to swap places with the two junior guards who were being held hostage. Head warden Chen Shih-chih later asked to take Lai's place and the inmates agreed.
The inmates, who demanded safe passage from the prison during negotiations, initially tried to escape through the main gate but found it locked.
Proceeding to the side gate, they encountered dozens of police officers and a volley of shots was exchanged. No injuries were reported from the brief shoot-out
The group then returned to a prison office as about 250 officers and sharpshooters were deployed around the jailhouse and in nearby buildings.
At about 3.30am, the inmates released head guard Wang as multiple gunshots were heard from the prison. Half an hour later, they shot into the air as local television companies tried using aerial cameras to film the siege from above.
By 5.40am, all six inmates had taken their own lives, Deputy Justice Minister Chen said. Their bodies were taken to a Kaohsiung hospital for autopsies.
Chen confirmed that a handwritten note from inmate Cheng, demanding parole, had been handed to a negotiator earlier that night.
In the letter, Cheng said it was unfair that former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian was granted parole "because of his political status". The former leader was jailed for corruption in 2009 but released last month on medical grounds.
The inmate also complained that the daily pay in jail was only NT$200 (HK$50) and he demanded a raise.
Ma said the hostage-taking was unacceptable, but that he was regretful about its outcome, offering his condolences to the inmates' families.
Police outside the Kaohsiung prison in southern Taiwan. Photo: AFP
Taiwan yesterday blamed flawed management for the island's prison siege and the suicide of six inmates who found their attempt to escape hopeless.
The Justice Ministry identified eight blunders, including the failure to prevent inmates obtaining weapons, had made it easier for prisoners to stage the siege at Kaohsiung Prison.
The prisoners, led by Cheng Li-te, a former head of the Kaohisung faction of the Bamboo Union triad gang serving a lengthy sentence for murder, held several prison officials hostage, including the warden, on Wednesday in their attempt to break out of jail.
The six prisoners ended up shooting themselves with guns taken from the prison armoury following a 14-hour stand-off with hundreds of police, including sharpshooters, who were deployed to prevent the inmates from escaping.
The movie-like saga, widely reported by local and foreign media, prompted the island's president, Ma Ying-jeou, to order authorities to find out the shortcomings of the current prison management and to step up prison reform within a week.
Senior officials of the justice ministry, corrections agency and prosecution department held a full-day meeting yesterday where they identified eight "blunders" that must be addressed to improve prison management on the island.
The first was the failure of prison officials to make thorough checks of inmates and then the jail workshops. "As a result, prisoners are able to hide sharp metal objects as weapons in the workshops and jail cells, and carrying concealed weapons with them around the prison," according to a Justice Ministry report released on Thursday night.
Pretending to need medical treatment, the six used a pair of scissors obtained from the sewing workshop to threaten medical officials and finally held hostage the warden and a head guard, the ministry said.
Inadequate security in the prison's armory allowed the inmates to get four powerful rifles and six pistols during their stand-off with police, the ministry said. Obsolete video monitoring equipment also impeded the police handling of the siege.
Inadequate manpower plus a failure to stop news media from broadcasting live or using aerial cameras for news coverage also needed to be addressed, the ministry noted.
Taiwan prison warden ‘lied about heroic offer to be hostage’ in deadly siege
Chen Shih-chih became a hostage by accident – bumping into armed inmates at Kaohsiung Prison on February 11 as he belatedly ran to the scene 30 minutes after siege began
Armed police stand guard outside Kaohsiung Prison, in southern Taiwan, during the siege on February 11. Photo: Reuters
A Taiwanese warden originally hailed a hero for risking his life to become a willing hostage in this month’s deadly prison siege has turned out to be a liar, says an investigation by the Justice Ministry.
Six inmates held staff hostage after seizing weapons at Kaohsiung Prison, on the south of the island, during a 14-hour stand-off on February 11.
After failing to escape, the inmates released the hostages unharmed and then committed suicide.
Chen Shih-chih, head warden at the prison, was hailed a hero by officials and local media after reportedly offering to take the place of junior staff as a hostage during the island’s first-ever prison siege.
However, the truth was very different. The report found he became a hostage only reluctantly – after bumping into the armed inmates by accident as he belatedly ran to the scene.
The report found he had known nothing about the siege for at least 30 minutes after it started.
Lai, his deputy, had also asked other prison officials to conceal the truth about the siege by telling others, including the news media, that the incident was simply a routine practice drill, the report said.
Both Chen and Lai were handed a major demerit and demoted as punishments for their serious negligence over the siege, a senior ministry official said today.
“Chen will be demoted to the role of chief of the planning division of the Agency of Corrections, while Lai will become an agency specialist, effective from March 4,” Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming-tang said.
Wang Shih-chang, the prison’s head guard, was also given a major demerit and demoted to become director of general affairs at a prison high school.
A further 20 officials, including Wu Hsien-chang, director-general of the Agency of Corrections, were also disciplined over the siege.
When the news of the reported hostage swap was first made public, Justice Minister Lo Ying-shay had praised Chen Shih-chih as a hero. All local media had also commended his actions, praising him as a highly responsible warden.
Both Chen Shih-chih and Lai were not available for comment after the release of the minstry's report into the investigation on Thursday night.
The ministry said the siege could have been prevented were it not for the prison officials’ lack of crisis management skills.
It criticised the security lapse at the prison and mishandling of the incident, which had allowed the inmates to seize six rifles and four handguns from the prison armoury, prompting what could have been a controllable incident into a major crisis.
Chen Ming-tang said Kaohsiung prosecutors were still investigating the siege and would find out who should face possible legal responsibility in the case.
The six inmates – all serving long sentences – had held prison officers hostage after seizing the weapons in an attempt to escape, only to find that all gates were locked.
They shot themselves after hundreds of armed police were stationed outside the prison to prevent their escape.
