Suspect indicted over April assault on Filipino child, Taiwanese man in Taipei

Taipei, June 4 (CNA) A suspect who attacked a 3-year-old Filipino girl and Taiwanese man at Taipei Main Station in April has been indicted, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office said Thursday.

Prosecutors said they brought an indictment against the 41-year-old Taiwanese man, Lee Kun-jui (李坤瑞), on Thursday for attacking a Taiwanese man and a young Filipino girl on April 25.

According to the indictment, Lee first targeted the Taiwanese man, surnamed Chen (陳), at around 2:07 p.m. that day, kicking him in the abdomen in the lobby of Taipei Main Station.

After that first attack, Lee then targeted a 3-year-old Filipino girl at approximately 2:24 p.m. at the same location, hitting the child with his hands and causing her to fall, the indictment says.

Lee then kicked the girl twice while she was on the ground, resulting in bruises on her back and face, according to prosecutors.

When the girl's mother picked her up, Lee attempted to attack the child again, but he was stopped by onlookers, the indictment says.

Lee was subsequently arrested by police and held without bail.

During the investigation, prosecutors said, it was determined that Lee had violated the Child and Juvenile Welfare and Rights Protection Act and Criminal Code.

The indictment also includes assault charges but does not extend to attempted murder, as the evidence did not indicate a use of weapons in the attacks or the intent to kill, prosecutors said.

However, prosecutors said, they will seek the maximum punishment for Lee under the law, given his violence against a child visiting Taiwan and the harm to the country's tourism image.