Images shared widely on social media show a shackled Taiwanese official, Chiayi City Councilor Tai Ning (戴寧) kneeling near her father's coffin, caused a public outrage across the country, according to Yahoo News.
According to sources, the Taiwanese official was arrested with accusations of embezzling around $174,500 (more than NT$5 million). Ning has been in pre-trial incommunicado detention since mid-March over the case.
秘書の人件費詐取の疑いで身柄拘束中の台湾嘉義の女性市議会議員の父親が亡くなったが逃亡防止のために手錠足輪で祭壇にというニュース。台湾は基本性悪説なのでこうなってしまうのかも：戴寧上銬奔喪「不近人情」 陳明文等5立委今向法務部抗議 https://t.co/RVOtKkBpxw pic.twitter.com/urBier3xkg
— OfficeShibata@GW?? (@officeshibata) March 25, 2022
During her term in the office, the Taiwanese official was accused of listing relatives as staff members and pocketing their salaries since 2012.
When her father passed away on March 20th, the official requested to attend his funeral, but she was banned from leaving jail by the Chiayi District Court. However, she filed a new request to attend the ceremony.
The Chiayi District Court on Sunday ordered independent Chiayi City Councilor Tai Ning (戴寧) to be detained on suspicion of embezzling more than NT$5 million (US$175,784) in government pay.https://t.co/7cOw2v9g5T
— Focus Taiwan (CNA English News) (@Focus_Taiwan) March 13, 2022
Multiple comments were released regarding the photos of the Taiwanese official at her father's funeral as some accused the authorities of treating prisoners in an inhuman way justifying that it's an exceptional case and despite the accusations, she should be treated nicely.
However, authorities replied to backlashes by the human rights activists saying it is legal to ask the prisoner to wear handcuffs and leg shackles at the funeral.
