TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Department of Prevention, Rehabilitation and Protection (保護司) of Taiwan's Ministry of Justice (MOJ, 法務部) and the Association for Victims Support (AVS) (犯罪被害人保護協會) have helped the families of four victims from the Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) food poisoning incident secure compensation, with each family receiving NT$1.8 million.
The food poisoning incident has resulted in six deaths, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, 衛生福利部) identified Bongkrek acid as the cause of the poisoning.
The Institute of Forensic Medicine, MOJ, confirmed the first and second victims died from Bongkrek acid poisoning. Authorities are still determining the exact cause of death for the remaining four victims, including a male from Malaysia and three females.
The Taipei District Prosecutors Office (台北地檢署) has summoned Polam Kopitiam's manager, branch manager, head chef, and substitute chef and restricted their travel rights. The AVS has also visited the families, providing psychological, economic, and legal assistance.
The revised "Crime Victim Rights Protection Act," effective from July 2023, changed the compensation system from subrogation claims to social assistance, expediting the review process. This system aims to ensure victims receive due compensation, especially when perpetrators are impoverished or untraceable, thereby promoting social fairness and supporting vulnerable victims.