New taipei: A 29-year-old man identified as Tseng has been officially indicted by the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office on charges of attempted murder following a stabbing incident involving the former president of Fu Jen Catholic University, Chiang Han-sun. The attack took place earlier this month while Chiang was attending to patients at Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital.
According to Focus Taiwan, the violent encounter occurred on November 11 when Tseng, masquerading as a registered patient, entered Chiang's consultation room and attacked him from behind with a utility knife. At the time, Chiang, a renowned urologist, was washing his hands. The assault resulted in a 6-centimeter laceration on Chiang's right wrist and additional injuries to his left hand and abdomen. Despite the severity of the attack, Chiang managed to flee the room even as Tseng continued his assault, eventually throwing the knife at him. Hospital security swiftly intervened to subdue Tseng.
Chiang's injuries, while severe, were not life-threatening, and he received immediate medical attention from hospital staff. Prosecutors have pointed out that the force used by Tseng was substantial, as evidenced by the knife slicing through Chiang's lab coat, signaling a clear intent to kill.
Investigations further revealed that Tseng had composed a Facebook post in late October, which was scheduled to be published post-attack. In the post, Tseng claimed he had "no intent to kill Chiang," an assertion prosecutors believe was a deliberate attempt to evade accountability for his actions.
Tseng now faces charges of attempted murder and obstructing medical personnel under the Medical Care Act, with prosecutors pushing for a seven-year prison term. They have stated that Tseng's motivation for targeting Chiang stemmed from dissatisfaction with a separate legal case where Chiang was acquitted in August of misusing university funds. Tseng, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the judicial process, opted for violence instead of lawful avenues.
The indictment has underscored the gravity of the attack, particularly as it occurred in a medical environment where individuals typically feel safe and secure. Prosecutors emphasized that the incident not only traumatized Chiang but also eroded public trust in medical institutions and professionals.
Previously, Chiang and his associates were embroiled in allegations of misappropriating university funds through fabricated activity expenses. Although he was initially convicted of breach of trust in a lower court ruling in January, the Taiwan High Court overturned this verdict on August 21, citing a lack of concrete evidence indicating financial harm to the university.