Justice Served in Taiwan: Nanny Sisters Sentenced in Tragic Infant Abuse Case

Court Delivers Verdict in Case of Fatal Child Abuse, Highlighting the Need for Enhanced Child Welfare Measures in Taiwan.

Taipei, Taiwan – The Taipei District Court delivered a verdict in a harrowing child abuse case, sentencing two sisters, formerly registered nannies surnamed Liu (劉), for the death of a one-year-old boy in their care. This tragic event has sent shockwaves throughout the nation and brought urgent attention to the child welfare system.

Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) received a life sentence, while her younger sister, Liu Juo-lin (劉若琳), was sentenced to 18 years. The charges included child abuse resulting in death, underscoring the severity of the crimes committed. The court found that the sisters "derived pleasure from abuse," characterizing their actions as extremely malicious.

The court noted the sisters' lack of settlement with the child's grandmother and assessed their potential for social reintegration as moderate to moderately high.

The older sister, hired by the Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF), was providing full-time foster care for the child, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴). His mother went missing shortly after his birth in New Taipei in February 2022, and with the father's whereabouts unknown, custody was transferred to the grandmother. The CWLF took over the case.

Between September and December 2023, the sisters were indicted for repeatedly abusing Kai Kai. The court's ruling detailed horrific acts, including beatings, starvation, and the use of restraints. Kai Kai suffered at least 42 abuse-related injuries.

On December 24, 2023, Kai Kai was found unconscious and later died from his injuries after the sisters took him to a local hospital.

Following the verdict, the lawyer for the child's grandmother, Lin Shuai-hsiao (林帥孝), acknowledged that the ruling did not meet the expectations for a death penalty but appreciated the court for imposing the maximum sentence in law as requested by the family. The family will consider an appeal of the younger sister's sentence.

The sisters were also indicted in January 2024 for allegedly abusing two other young children in their care in 2023, revealing a broader pattern of abuse. The verdicts can still be appealed.