October 18, 2025 | Taipei, Taiwan
In the early hours of October 18, a South African teacher identified as Mr. S, who teaches at a private international school in Taipei, was arrested after assaulting a passerby while allegedly driving under the influence. The incident occurred at the intersection of Linsen North Road and Changchun Road in Zhongshan District, Taipei City.
According to the Zhongshan Second Police Precinct, officers received a report at around 2:56 a.m. about a street altercation involving a foreign man. Upon arrival, they discovered that Mr. S, who appeared intoxicated, had punched a man surnamed Li following a brief verbal confrontation.
Investigations revealed that Mr. S and Mr. Li brushed past each other on the street. When Mr. Li asked for an apology, Mr. S reportedly became agitated and struck him. Mr. Li immediately filed an assault complaint, and police later confirmed the incident through surveillance footage before placing Mr. S under arrest.
While being taken into custody, Mr. S was described as emotionally unstable and even attempted to light a cigarette to calm down, prompting officers to reprimand him. During questioning, he denied committing assault, insisting that he only pushed Mr. Li. He later filed a petition with the Taipei District Court challenging his arrest, claiming it was unlawful.
However, the court reviewed the evidence and determined that the police had acted properly, rejecting Mr. S’s appeal. The case has since been transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for further investigation under Taiwan’s Criminal Code on assault.
Police officials reminded the public to drink responsibly, handle disputes calmly, and avoid physical altercations to prevent unnecessary legal consequences.