Justice Served: Family of Indonesian Fisher Secures Settlement in Taiwan Death Case

After years of legal battles, the family of Supriyanto, who died on a Taiwanese fishing vessel, reaches a civil settlement, highlighting the complexities of migrant worker rights in Taiwan.

Taipei, Taiwan – In a landmark case highlighting migrant worker rights within Taiwan, the family of Supriyanto, an Indonesian fisher who tragically died aboard a Taiwanese fishing vessel in 2015, has reached a civil settlement.

The Taiwan International Workers' Association (TIWA) announced that the family settled the civil lawsuit with the ship's captain and chief engineer for an undisclosed amount. Supriyanto, a 43-year-old Indonesian migrant worker, died on the "Fu Tsz Chiun," a Kaohsiung-registered longline fishing vessel, on August 25, 2015.

The death of Supriyanto was attributed to septicemia following alleged assault and inadequate medical care. The settlement, mediated by the Pingtung District Court through legal counsel Tseng Wei-kai (曾威凱), marks the culmination of nearly a decade of advocacy by fishing worker rights groups, with TIWA taking on the case in December 2016.

Tseng Wei-kai (曾威凱) expressed relief at the conclusion of the eight-year legal battle, which began with a criminal case filed in June 2017. Witness testimony from Supriyanto's younger sister, Rusmiati, was instrumental in the settlement process, which occurred on September 26, 2024.

The Pingtung District Prosecutors Office, responsible for the ongoing criminal case against the "Fu Tsz Chiun" captain Chen Kai-chih (陳凱治) and chief engineer Chen Chin-piao (陳金錶), will be notified of the settlement. The Prosecutors Office, which initially ruled the death "accidental," reopened the case in December 2016.

The Control Yuan, Taiwan's governmental watchdog, found that video evidence of Supriyanto's complaints of abuse, including statements of being stalked and beaten by the captain, was not properly translated or considered. The case involved indictments on August 23, 2023, charging the captain with negligent homicide and assault, and the chief engineer and another Indonesian fisher, Agus Setiawan, with assault and abuse.

The case continues to be active, and Indonesian Munawir Sazali, another individual allegedly involved in the abuse, remains wanted by authorities after fleeing Taiwan. The settlement underscores the long and complex fight for justice and the rights of migrant workers in Taiwan.