Taiwan mulls death penalty for drunk driving (Guardian)

Taiwan plans to ramp up punishments for those who cause a fatal accident while drunk driving, including the death penalty for the most egregious cases, sparking an outcry from abolition and rights groups.

The cabinet on Thursday approved a draft amendment to the Criminal Code that would make death by drunk driving an indictable murder offence, potentially punishable by death if the deed is deemed “intentional”, officials said.

The proposal needs parliamentary approval but comes after a spate of high profile deaths that have generated widespread outrage.

Currently the maximum sentence in Taiwan for causing a death while drunk behind the wheel is 10 years. Read more