Taipei: The Supreme Court has upheld a nine-year, nine-month prison sentence for a man who attacked two passengers with knives on a Taichung mass rapid transit (MRT) train in May 2024. The court affirmed that the Taichung Branch of the Taiwan High Court’s ruling was without error, rejecting an appeal by the defendant, surnamed Hung. Initially sentenced to 10 years, Hung’s term was reduced after reaching a settlement with the victims.

According to Focus Taiwan, the attack occurred on May 21, 2024, when Hung, then 20, used three knives to assault passengers, injuring two men, Hsu and Lu. Hung expressed dissatisfaction with Taiwan’s society, aiming to make a statement by choosing a date linked to a previous metro attack in 2014. He admitted to targeting vital areas, wearing non-slip gloves during the premeditated assault.

The Taichung District Court, in its initial trial on December 26, 2024, found that Hung intended to kill. A psychiatric evaluation revealed a mental condition, but no impairment was noted during the crime. The High Court, considering Hung’s remorse and settlement with a victim, acknowledged the attack’s impact but reduced the sentence from 10 years to nine years and nine months.