A Taipei court yesterday handed down five death sentences to one of Taiwan's most notorious criminals - the serial killer-rapist who tried to avoid arrest by kidnapping a South African diplomat and his family.
But 12 fellow defendants received relatively light sentences from the court in Taipei county.
Chen Chin-hsing, 39, became infamous in Taiwan last April, after he and two accomplices kidnapped and murdered Pai Hsiao-yen, 17, daughter of television celebrity Pai Ping-ping.
Yesterday, Chen stood emotionless as judges handed him five death sentences, two life sentences and a prison term totalling 59 years and six months.
He was convicted by a panel of Panchiao District Court judges on 12 separate charges, including kidnapping, murder, rape, robbery, possession of illegal firearms and theft.
Chen's two main accomplices, Lin Chun-sheng and Kao Tien-min, died in separate Taipei shootouts with police late last year.