Filipino worker sentenced to 15 years for murder of fellow countryman

Taipei, Aug. 7 (CNA) The Changhua District Court on Thursday sentenced a Filipino migrant worker to 15 years in prison for the murder of a fellow countryman in 2023.

According to the verdict, the court found Filipino national Dizon Benjie San Agustin guilty of violating Taiwan's criminal code on homicide and endangerment.

The verdict indicated that Agustin murdered a fellow migrant worker in Changhua County and endangered the lives of others.

Agustin apparently decided to kill the victim, whose English name was not revealed as of press time, when attempts to reconcile with his estranged wife failed.

Agustin reportedly returned to the Philippines from December 2022 to January 2023 in an effort to save his marriage.

During the trip, Agustin seemed to have learned that the victim told Agustin's estranged wife that Agustin had a girlfriend in Taiwan, the verdict indicated.

After attempts at reconciliation failed, Agustin purchased gasoline, a blowtorch and a sickle from Nov. 18-22, 2023 before hiding the items inside a workers' dormitory.

Around 12 a.m. on the morning of Nov. 23, 2023, Agustin doused the room occupied by the deceased and a roommate.

After setting the room ablaze with a blowtorch, he then blocked the door from the outside to prevent the occupants from escaping.

Once they did breach the door, Agustin reportedly attacked the deceased victim with a sickle in an effort to force him back into the room.

Although both occupants eventually managed to escape the room, Agustin's main target sustained lacerations and fractures to his head and chest on top of burns to his face and torso.

Efforts to save the man failed and he passed away on Dec. 16, 2023.

Meanwhile, the roommate survived the ordeal with burns to his limbs and back.

The verdict also indicated that after setting fire to the room, Agustin later took flammable liquid to a second room inside the dormitory and sprayed it onto the face of another migrant worker who suffered from shock.

Although local firefighters were able to put the fire out and save the dorm, the verdict indicated that the location still sustained property damage to the wall divisions and air conditioning units.

Changhua District Court sentenced Agustin to 15 years in prison for homicide.

He was also sentenced to an additional six months for endangerment, which can be commuted to a fine.

Agustin will be deported after serving his sentence, the verdict indicated, adding that the judgment can be appealed.