Wang Wenzhong
Case Introduction
In 2012, Su Chien-ho(蘇建和), Liu Bin-lang(劉秉郎), and Chuang Lin-hsun(莊林勳) were finally acquitted in a final criminal judgment. Yet Wang Wenzhong(王文忠), who was accused in the same case of acting as a lookout during the burglary, continues to bear a wrongful conviction based on a confession extracted through torture. Seeking redress for Wang is not only about securing long-overdue justice for him, but also about finally removing the civil legal burden that continues to weigh on the three men in the Su case.
A False Confession Extracted through Torture and Threats Against His Family
When the case occurred in 1991, Wang Wenzhong was serving in the military. During police questioning, he was unlawfully tortured. The police also threatened him, saying, “If you do not confess, we will drag your mother into this as well.” Frightened, isolated, and without support, Wang was forced to confess. He was ultimately convicted and imprisoned for acting as a lookout during the burglary.
A Continuing Chain of Harm: Criminal Exoneration, but Ongoing Civil Proceedings
In 2012, after 21 years of litigation, the acquittals of Su Chien-ho and the other two men became final. The court found that the police interrogations had involved serious unlawful torture and illegally obtained confessions.
However, the false confession extracted from Wang Wenzhong through torture not only resulted in his wrongful imprisonment; it also continued to affect Su Chien-ho and the other two men in subsequent civil proceedings. This coerced confession continues to cause harm to innocent people.
Control Yuan Investigation Report: Judicial Investigation No. 24 (2026)
The Control Yuan’s investigation report notes that the final acquittal in the Su Chien-ho case established that the confessions of Su Chien-ho, Liu Bin-lang, and Chuang Lin-hsun had been unlawfully obtained. Those confessions therefore could not legitimately serve as corroborating evidence in Wang Wenzhong’s case.
The judicial proceedings also failed to provide Wang with an opportunity to confront and cross-examine the three men, thereby violating his procedural rights. These circumstances constitute grounds for seeking a retrial and filing an extraordinary appeal.
Why Are We Supporting This Case?
Wang Wenzhong is a victim of unlawful torture who was denied his procedural rights. Seeking to clear his name is an important step toward ensuring that the justice system follows due process and that evidence is assessed in its proper factual context.