Chan Tong-kai, the man who murdered his girlfriend during a vacation in Taiwan last month, may get away with murder as he is only charged with theft and handling stolen goods.
The 19-year-old man was never charged with murder because Taiwanese investigators never had the chance to question him, according to Taiwan News. Other analysts also suggested that he may actually get away with it since there are legal loopholes in how the judicial system is recognized between Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Chan, along with his girlfriend Poon Hiu-wing, went to Taipei, Taiwan to have a vacation for Valentine’s Day on Feb. 13. However, only Chan returned home on Feb. 17, which raised concerns for the 20-year-old’s parents asking him about their daughter.
He was caught by Hong Kong police on March 13 and admitted he strangled Poon as he was enraged by the fact that she may have been pregnant with another man’s child. Chan also admitted that he stuffed her lifeless body inside the suitcase and dumped it on a grass bank outside Zhuwei metro station in New Taipei City.
The huge problem stems from the fact that Chan is now currently in Hong Kong police custody. However, they don’t have access to the evidence. Taiwan police, on the other hand, has full access to the evidence, but no access to the suspect.
Taiwan has reportedly asked for Hong Kong’s assistance in the case, but without the suspect in the former’s custody, they won’t be able to proceed with the murder charges. Unless a special arrangement is made, Hong Kong will not recognize Taiwan’s jurisdiction.
The murder trial will most likely have to conducted in Hong Kong to give justice to the case, as said in the report. If they reach an agreement, Taiwan would need to surrender all evidence to Hong Kong police and the former would have to take the role of key witnesses.
