E001 | Judges, Police, Prosecutors Keep Repeating the Same Question — Here’s What to Do

This applies whether you’re at a police station, prosecutor’s office, or courtroom. For simplicity, we’ll use “the authorities” throughout.

Imagine this…

You as a foreigner are being questioned or interrogated in Taiwan. You answer, but then the authorities ask the same thing again. And again. The procedure takes longer than you expected. You start to wonder:

“Are they simply not going to believe what I say?”

You may fall into silence as protest, or you may change your answer based on what you think is implied. However, neither response helps your case.

Why the authorities repeat questions:

1. To check whether your statement is consistent.
2. To make sure the interpretation is accurate.
3. They believe the question is key to the case. It may be the exact statement they cite in their final decision.

The mindset shift you need:

Don’t treat every repeated question as an attack. Think of it as an invitation — another chance to speak, clarify, and make your point heard.

What you should do:

1. Stay calm. Don’t get irritated — that almost always hurts your case.
2. Repeat your answer as if it’s the first time. Resist the urge to add extra words just to ease the tense atmosphere or please the authority in front of you.
3. Make sure your statement is captured in the written record. (Not only audio record)

Final note:

The real worst-case scenario is not being given enough time to speak.

So if you are asked again, see it as a chance — you’re lucky to have one more opportunity to be heard.