Browsing: crime

Police said Chen claimed he fled because he feared being stopped by officers. A search of the vehicle uncovered electronic cigarette oil containing etomidate (依托咪酯), and while Chen tested negative for alcohol, a preliminary saliva drug screening returned a positive result

After authorities issued orders halting soil removal, the operation allegedly escalated rather than stopped. Instead of restoring the land with clean fill, suspects are accused of dumping construction waste — including bricks, concrete debris, plastic refuse, and even tires — into the pits, covering them with thin soil to conceal the contamination.

Police said Luo may have fallen while disoriented or experiencing an alcohol-induced blackout, though the exact cause of the fall remains under investigation. Prosecutors have ordered a post-mortem examination to determine the precise cause of death.

The ruling reflects a broader legal transition in Taiwan: adultery is no longer treated as a matter for state punishment, but neither is it legally consequence-free.

The investigation revealed that a criminal syndicate had mined gravel from agricultural lands in Meinong District (美濃區) since October 2017.

The pursuit continued into Dajhong 1st Road (大中一路), where traffic congestion briefly slowed the suspect’s vehicle. Police attempted to block the car, but the driver reversed and deliberately struck a police vehicle, prompting officers to open fire at the car’s front tires in an effort to stop it. Despite the shots, the vehicle escaped.

According to Fongshan Police Precinct (鳳山分局), a 26-year-old surnamed Song allegedly owed NT$250,000 in gambling-related debt and had refused to meet the creditor. The creditor, a 34-year-old surnamed Chang, is accused of arranging a meeting using a young woman as a decoy.

Local media coverage highlighted not just the specifics of the case but also broader concerns about the misuse of substances like GHB or “G-water” to incapacitate victims

The case has drawn public attention not only for the brutality of the murders — including the presence of child witnesses — but also for discussions about the application of the death penalty standard in Taiwan’s legal system, which requires that capital punishment be reserved for “the most serious crimes.” The High Court reiterated that this benchmark applies based on evidence and individual case severity rather than a literal count of victims alone.

The driver sustained minor injuries and was trapped inside the overturned vehicle until emergency responders arrived. Officers later discovered three packets of heroin and an e-cigarette containing etomidate inside the car.