(File photo courtesy of an eyewitness)

Taipei, Dec. 8 (CNA) A man who ran his gravel truck into the Presidential Office compound in Taipei last year and the company he worked for must pay NT$3.44 million (US$104,480) in compensation in a civil suit filed by the Presidential Office, the Taipei District Court ruled Tuesday.

The ruling can still be appealed.

The defendant, Chang Te-cheng (張德正), said in court proceedings earlier that he was willing to pay compensation, but he had no money.

Chang was previously sentenced to six years in jail on criminal charges related to the incident.

Chang ran a 35-ton gravel truck through the front gate of the Presidential Office early on the morning of Jan. 25, 2014 to vent his anger after feeling that he was wronged in a court ruling on his domestic violence case.

He then rammed through railings, security posts, and security gates and drove toward the Presidential Office's main entrance before a military policeman closed a bulletproof gate to stop the speeding truck.

He was indicted on several charges, including attempted murder, obstruction of official duties, and damaging property and a historic site.

Chang was sentenced to five years and 10 months in a first trial, and a higher court increased the sentence to six years because he showed no remorse for his actions during the appeal.

Chang decided not to appeal the verdict and began serving his term on Nov. 17.

(By Page Tsai and Lilian Wu)
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