TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Authorities at Lyudao Prison (綠島監獄), or Green Island Prison, on Tuesday (Jan. 7) preliminarily attributed inmate Wang Tien-you's (王天佑) escape to emotional instability. Officials said his failed attempts at parole and inability to financially reconcile with victims contributed to his actions. Wang, serving time for violating the "Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act" (毒品危害防制條例), fled during routine operations but was quickly recaptured.
Wang escaped Monday afternoon when guards escorted him to a storeroom. Prison officials immediately called for police support. Taitung police dispatched five teams, totaling 20 officers, by coast guard patrol boat to Green Island. They discovered Wang hiding near the prison staff dormitory rooftop Monday night and arrested him after persuading him to surrender. Prison secretary Yang Jui-hsing (楊瑞興) reported that Wang remained emotionally unstable and offered no explanation for his escape. Yang added that the prison has contacted Wang's family and plans to investigate further.
Wang, facing 1 year and 10 months left in his sentence, has applied for parole a third time after two rejections. Yang noted Wang's inability to reconcile financially with victims heightened his emotional stress, leaving him feeling trapped. With Wang's third parole application pending, the prison administration will continue to monitor his emotional state. The incident highlights the challenges inmates face when parole is denied and financial constraints prevent reconciliation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive support systems within correctional facilities.