TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Singer Chiu Chun (邱軍), who goes by the stage name Kui, was sentenced by a court on Wednesday to 10 years in prison for fatally striking a taxi driver while driving under the influence.
Asked whether he felt the sentence was too harsh, the 27-year-old Chiu said “no,” adding that he would make every effort to reach an agreement with the victim’s family, per CNA. Asked about apologizing, he said, “Of course, I will continue to apologize,” and expressed regret for the trouble he had caused the public.
The Keelung District Court’s citizen judge panel began hearing the case on Monday and concluded arguments on Tuesday. Judges continued sentencing deliberations Wednesday morning, and the verdict, originally scheduled for noon, was announced at around 1:10 p.m.
Presiding Judge Chien Chih-lung (簡志龍) said Chiu had previously received a deferred prosecution for drunk driving but reoffended, violating Article 185-3 of the Criminal Code. Because he caused a death within 10 years of that deferred prosecution, he faced life imprisonment or at least five years in prison, and was given eight years for that offense.
He was also convicted under Article 185-4 for causing death or injury through a hit-and-run and sentenced to three years and six months. The combined sentence was set at 10 years in prison, but the case may be appealed.
According to the Keelung District Prosecutors Office indictment, Chiu drank a large amount of draft beer and several cups of millet wine at a restaurant in Keelung in the early hours of Dec. 27, 2024. He then drove to a friend’s residence in the city.
At around 4 a.m., while driving on Xin 1st Road, he struck two taxi drivers surnamed Lee (李) and Chen (陳), who were standing in the outermost lane chatting while waiting for passengers, per UDN. After the collision, Chiu briefly pulled over but did not get out to check, then continued driving until he stopped at a red light.
When a witness shouted, “You hit someone,” Chiu ran the red light and fled the scene. The 48-year-old Lee underwent emergency surgery and was hospitalized for treatment, but died on Jan. 3 after seven days of intensive care, per ETtoday.
During a court session on Monday, prosecutors played several surveillance clips from the restaurant to show Chiu had been drinking, noting he was seen scratching his head and appearing fatigued when he left. They also presented a Line conversation between Chiu and his manager after the accident, in which Chiu appeared to shift blame onto the taxi drivers’ position in the roadway, Yahoo News reported.
