New Probe Into Military Death
REPORTER:
A new investigation into the 2008 death of an air force sergeant is underway. It aims to clear up a dispute over the facts of the case and uncover any negligence on the part of prosecutors. John Van Trieste reports.
REPORTER:
The question of just how Air Force Sergeant Tsai Hsueh-liang died is one that’s haunted Taiwan for more than 17 years. Prosecutors ruled it a suicide by assault rifle. But Tsai’s mother believes her son was murdered during target practice with a shot to the head.
REPORTER:
Now, the government watchdog, the Control Yuan, says there’s a hole in the official explanation. Control Yuan member Tsai Chung-yi says that as far back as 2019, forensic and ballistics testing showed Tsai’s gunshot wound wasn’t consistent with a shot from a T65 rifle—the weapon prosecutors say he used to end his life.
REPORTER:
The Control Yuan is opening a new investigation. It aims to find out whether there was judicial or prosecutorial negligence—and whether laws about evidence were violated.
REPORTER:
Tsai’s mother says she suspects a years-long cover up.
Yu Jui-min (TSAI HSUEH-LIANG'S MOTHER):
This report is enough to prove
Tsai Hsueh-liang's gunshot wound
was not from a T65 assault rifle.
Since his death
everyone [the military] worked with has been promoted.
Wouldn’t going back on their past claims about his death
mean contradicting themselves?
Of course they want to suppress the matter.
REPORTER:
The defense ministry says it will do what the Control Yuan asks.
Chio Fu-chun (DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON):
The Control Yuan member
is exercising their legal powers.
The ministry will maintain its consistent position
and cooperation with the investigation.
REPORTER:
The Control Yuan hopes it can now settle any lingering doubts about what happened to Sergeant Tsai Hsueh-liang for good.
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