The ROC and Germany signed a prisoner exchange agreement in Berlin Oct. 23 and Taipei City Nov. 6 at the countries’ respective representative offices in both capitals, the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nov. 6.
Under the agreement, which becomes effective Nov. 30, prisoners will be returned to their home country to serve out the remainder of their sentences, the ROC Ministry of Justice said. This is a humanistic measure that helps the rehabilitation and return of offenders to society, as well as making it easier for family members to visit them. The relevant laws have been revised to allow the humane, safe, fast and smooth repatriation in accordance with the inmates’ wishes, while recognizing the respective nations’ judicial sovereignty under international law, the MOJ said.
According to the MOFA, the number of cross-border criminal cases is on the increase globally. But language and cultural differences, as well as the difficulty of visiting family members incarcerated abroad and limited remedial effect of foreign imprisonment, have made prisoner repatriation a growing international trend.
This is the first such prisoner swap agreement the ROC has signed with a European country, the MOFA said. Prior to the signing, the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act was promulgated in January and took effect July 23, allowing the establishment of a general procedure for mutual repatriation of prisoners with foreign countries on a basis of mutuality and reciprocity, the ministry added.
As of the end of October, the MOJ said, there are seven German nationals in jail in Taiwan who have expressed the desire to be repatriated to serve out the remainder of their time. There are more than 10 ROC nationals imprisoned in Germany. (SDH)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw