$25NT bag of chips AND A MISUNDERSTANDING

[tommy525]

Try putting something in your jacket at a Walmart here in the USA. YOu could be tackled to the floor by security and possibly tazed if the police are around.

Its a good lesson. Don't eat anything without paying for it. Its a crime here in the USA too and its serious.

Don't even THINK about it.

You were unlucky. You probably was "caught" by the owner of that 7/11 franchise who decided to make a case of you. You probably put up some sort of resistance perhaps? I would think most people are happy if you apologize and immediately buy some more stuff and pay for it all.

You were made a case of by either a mean owner or you may have been less then gentlemanly yourself. Only the two of you know.

But it certainly escalated beyond what is usual.

Don't go into that 7/11 ever again , there are many others.

[Super Hans]

In Taiwan if you consume a product without leaving the store and without paying for it it is still considered thief under Taiwan law or if you walk with items that you honestly completely forgot to pay for you can still be criminally charged.

If this is really true, and I have it on good advice that it isn't, then the owner of the store allowed you to perpetuate a crime on her premises. She knew that you were eating a packet of crisps and let you continue to do so. She knowingly allowed you to commit a crime and created the circumstances within which to allow you to do so. Which is illegal. The court HAS to prove intent, which they obviously haven't.
You should have got a lawyer. You've been had over a barrel.

[archylgp]

In Taiwan if you consume a product without leaving the store and without paying for it it is still considered thief under Taiwan law or if you walk with items that you honestly completely forgot to pay for you can still be criminally charged.

If this is really true, and I have it on good advice that it isn't, then the owner of the store allowed you to perpetuate a crime on her premises. She knew that you were eating a packet of crisps and let you continue to do so. She knowingly allowed you to commit a crime and created the circumstances within which to allow you to do so. Which is illegal. The court HAS to prove intent, which they obviously haven't out of principle.
You should have got a lawyer. You've been had over a barrel.

In Taiwan, the court doesn't have to prove anything.

[Super Hans]

I think he went to mediation, which is not really the court. This is a get out of jail free for $8000NT card that they give you to dissuade you from going through the hearing process. You agree to pay up. They agree to drop the charges. No criminal record. Everyone is happy.