Death of Hung Chung-chiu

The death of Hung Chung-chiu (Chinese: 洪仲丘; pinyin: Hóng Zhòngqiū; Wade–Giles: Húng Chùng-chiū; 8 September 1989 – 4 July 2013), a Republic of China (Taiwan) Army specialist in the 542nd Armor Brigade, occurred under suspicious circumstances while serving a detention sentence in a 269th Mechanized Infantry Brigade barrack during his conscription service spurred allegations of military abuse.

[1][2] The military investigation has led to the arrest and questioning of several officials, with the case eventually transferred to civilian prosecutors from Ministry of Justice.

[1][9] Hung was ordered to perform strenuous exercise drills as part of his punishment, and was hospitalized on 3 July, after reportedly suffering a heatstroke and falling into a coma.

[18] Similar questions were raised on delays in emergency transport and treatment of Hung after he fell into coma at the detention barrack; Taiwanese media used civilian CCTV recordings of the journey to 819th Army Hospital to allege that the ambulance was traveling at a slow speed and its sirens turned off.

Critical segments of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) recording that was recovered by investigations from the 269th Brigade that housed Hung in detention were discovered missing.

[2][21] This has led to allegations of foul play by Hung's family, the Taiwanese media and opposition members from Legislative Yuan.

[2] Hung's soldier diary was also initially reported as lost, but was subsequently recovered and the last entry was dated 6 months before his death.

Taiwanese Minister of National Defense Kao Hua-chu tendered his resignation after the incident, but was initially declined by President Ma Ying-jeou.

[4] The Hung family insisted that the military officials responsible should bear the compensation amount and rejected the offer, saying that they only consider this matter after the truth is revealed.

[35] Following the lower court rulings on the case, Citizen 1985 and netizens voiced disappointment at the sentences, and plan to organize another demonstration.