New Taipei:The New Taipei District Court has sentenced taxi driver Lin Yu-chun to 13 years in prison for abandoning a passenger, who subsequently died, on Provincial Highway No. 64. The incident, which occurred earlier this year, involved the passenger being run over by four vehicles after being left on the highway.

According to Focus Taiwan, the verdict was delivered by a panel of professional and citizen judges following a trial that took place from November 2 to 5. The situation unfolded on January 25, when Lin picked up a passenger named Wen via the Bolt ride-hailing platform for a trip from Taipei's Wenshan District to Banqiao District in New Taipei.

During the journey, Wen collapsed in the back seat while on Provincial Highway No. 64 in Zhonghe, New Taipei. Lin stopped the taxi between traffic lanes, removed Wen from the vehicle, and drove away. Wen was then fatally run over by four passing vehicles.

The court did not clarify why Wen collapsed, although local media suggested that intoxication was a factor. In a news release, the court stated that Lin initially informed police about the collapsed passenger without disclosing his role as the taxi driver. After Wen's death, Lin visited a police station, claiming that Wen had exited the taxi on his own.

The court determined that Lin was ineligible for a reduced sentence under voluntary surrender rules, as he concealed his role and provided false information. Additionally, Lin did not reach a settlement with Wen's family or demonstrate genuine remorse. Despite the family's request for a life sentence and the prosecutors' recommendation of 11 years, the panel deemed these suggestions inappropriate, considering Lin's lack of a criminal record and other factors. Lin has the right to appeal the ruling.