Chiayi temple festival bomber gets 28 years in prison

Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) The Supreme Court has upheld a 28-year prison sentence for a Chiayi City man who planted and remotely detonated an explosive at a temple festival in July 2023, injuring 29 people, including six children and teenagers.

The ruling on Thursday made the sentence against Chao Wei-chih (趙偉志) final. He was initially given a life sentence by the Chiayi District Court and the Taiwan High Court's Tainan branch, later reduced to 28 years after the Supreme Court ordered a retrial.

According to the ruling, Chao made the explosive at a rented residence in Chiayi before July 15, 2023. He packed high explosives and fireworks powder into a metal box, added steel bearing balls, and fitted it with a remote-control detonator.

At around 9:38 p.m. on July 15, Chao took the bomb in a bag to a temple festival marking the 10th anniversary of the Chiayi and Lienjing Golden Tiger Association in Chiayi City's West District.

He placed the bag in a temporary trash collection area about 2 to 4 meters from the stage before walking about 30 meters away and detonating the bomb with a wireless remote control at around 9:55 p.m.

The explosion caused 29 people to be injured, including three children and three teenagers. All survived after being taken to hospital.

The Chiayi District Court previously described the attack as a premeditated, indiscriminate act of violence and sentenced Chao to life imprisonment for illegally manufacturing an explosive with the intent to use it in a crime.

However, in a retrial, the Tainan High Court said prosecutors had failed to prove that Chao, who had a previous interest in explosives, had criminal intent at the time he manufactured the bomb, ruling that Chao had only later decided to use it to harm people.

It therefore sentenced him to 14 years for illegally manufacturing an explosive and 18 years for attempted murder of children by an adult, with a combined sentence of 28 years.

The Supreme Court dismissed both prosecutors' and Chao's appeals on Thursday, making the sentence final.