KMT caucus proposes referendum on flogging for certain crimes

Taipei, May 26 (CNA) Taiwan's Legislature is scheduled to review an opposition-backed referendum proposal that would allow flogging as a judicial punishment for individuals convicted of certain serious crimes.

The motion, jointly sponsored by all 52 lawmakers of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) on Tuesday, proposes subjecting those convicted of sexual assault, child abuse, major financial fraud, and aggravated "hybrid scam" offenses to flogging.

It argues these crimes have significantly harmed social order and raises the question of whether existing penalties are "adequate in responding to public expectations for justice and social security," according to the text of the proposal.

The motion includes a referendum question asking whether the government should "establish a court-imposed and legally enforced criminal punishment system (flogging) targeting sexual assault, child abuse, major financial fraud and aggravated hybrid scam, to deter such crimes."

The proposal will be considered in a plenary session on Friday.

If it passes the Legislature, the referendum process could be formally initiated and potentially voted on alongside the Nov. 28 local elections.

Under Taiwan's Referendum Act, referendums may be initiated by civic groups after collecting sufficient signatures.

In cases where the subject of a referendum involves the initiation of a major policy, a referendum proposal can also be put forward by the Cabinet or the Legislature for legislative review.