Crime and Criminals

Third Suspect Identified in ATM Heist: 80 Million Taiwan Dollars Stolen

Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

Police have named a third suspect after a two-day bank heist that saw 34 ATM machines hacked and more than NTD$80 million dollars (around USD$2.5 million) stolen. The third suspect is believed to have remained in Taiwan. The estimated haul was revised upwards from yesterday’s reported NTD$70 million. A Latvian man surnamed Andrenjs is alleged to have stayed at the 5-star Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei’s Xinyi District along with the two Russian suspects who departed the country early Monday

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ATMs Hacked: Russian Criminals Steal NT$70 Million

Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , ,

Two Russian nationals spent two days in Taiwan stealing money from automatic teller machines belonging to First National Bank. They fled the country after stealing a total of $NT 70 million (about US$2.2 million). Their lucrative tour came to an end after they were seen by a member of the public while robbing an ATM at Guting in Taipei City. The men hurriedly left, while the machine continued to spew out NT$60 000 in bank notes. The person who witnessed

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Public Protests Animal Abuse at Military Base

Protesters at a military camp in Kaohsiung
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment

A group of around 50 people gathered this evening at the gate of a military base in Kaohsiung to demand an apology for the cruel killing of a dog by soldiers. Earlier in the day, eggs had been thrown into the camp by passers-by. The controversy erupted after Kaohsiung Mayor, Chen Xinyu uploaded a video to You Tube June 26 that showed soldiers hanging a young, white dog. The soldiers had beaten the dog with sticks before hanging it. After

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Man Busted at Airport: Amphetamine Bound for Australia

A Taiwanese drug mule wears a t-shirt bearing the words hello Mr. Banana on his way to Queensland, Australia's sunshine state
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

A 25 year-old Taiwanese man was arrested at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport Friday evening, June 17, when he was about to board a plane bound for Brisbane, Australia, carrying 5.4kg of amphetamine in 8 packs taped to his body. Working on a tip-off, police waited for the man, Chen Kun-sheng (陳坤生) in the departure lounge. When he arrived, they established his identity and showed a search warrant. As well as the amphetamine, Mr Chen was found in possession of a

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American Kills Himself in Court After Marijuana Conviction

American man Marhanka being led to court by police
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment ,

An American cram school teacher killed himself in a courthouse in Changhua County this morning after being sentenced to a four year prison term for growing marijuana. Upon hearing the judges decision, 41 year-old Tyrel Martin Marhanka, Chinese name 李瑪翰 (Li Mahan), pulled a pair of scissors out of his pocket and stabbed himself in the neck. Marhanka was rushed to hospital but the damage to blood vessels and his windpipe was too severe and doctors were unable to save

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Elderly Man Stabbed to Death on Tiger Mountain: 18 Year-Old Man Arrested

Zhou Jianshen is paraded before media after confessing to a brutal murder in Taipei City
Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

An 88 year-old man was found dead today after being reported missing by family when he failed to return home after a bike ride in the Four Beast Mountain area of Taipei City the previous day. A forensic examination found he had been stabbed more than 20 times in a vicious knife attack. The body of Mr Lee was found shirtless in an abandoned pavilion on Tiger Mountain. Police arrested an 18 year-old man this evening, Monday, June 13, in

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Biggest Drug Bust in Taiwan’s History: Trojan Pandas Intercepted.

Pandas used to smuggle drugs into Taiwan
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 1 Comment , , , ,

A total of 1,783.5 kg of illicit drugs were intercepted in a shipment of goods that included children’s playground ornaments, tea, and car wax. Some of the drugs were hidden in fibreglass Panda statues and giant mushrooms designed to be placed in playgrounds. The drugs were first detected by Taichung customs officers on March 31. Police special investigation units were notified, and a coordinated effort was made between different agencies to track and arrest the recipients of the shipment. The

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Township Mayor Indicted in Murder of Police Officer

Mayor Wan Kun-hong being brought in to be arraigned on charges of paying to murder his rival in love
Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment ,

The mayor of a small town in Taiwan’s Chiayi County has been indicted as the prime suspect in a murder investigation after a search was made in 10 locations in the township, including the mayor’s home and his office. The Mayor of Jhuqi (Jhuci) Township, Wang Kun-hong, along with a cousin, was subpoenaed to appear in court today March 12, 2016. The mayor and his cousin have been named as a suspects in the case, and five other family members,

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New Zealand Drug Mule Busted at Airport

A New Zealand man is strip searched after being suspected of smuggling drugs into Taiwan February 29, 2016
Drugs 
Phillip Charlier 14 Comments , ,

A twenty-two year-old New Zealand man was arrested at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport on February 29 carrying 2.7 kilograms of heroin sewn into the fabric of his backpack. Customs and immigration authorities thought the man was suspicious because of his flight path. The man, who has not been named, flew directly from New Zealand to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Then after a brief stop, he flew to Incheon Korea, where he boarded a flight to Taipei. After putting the backpack through

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Emergency Power Restoration too Slow: Electrical Workers Beaten by Thugs

Violent Crimes 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Two employees of Taipower undertaking repairs to the power grid in Yunlin County in the wake of Typhoon Soudelor, were beaten up by a group of thugs wielding baseball bats, who hit the men and smashed a window of their truck. The men were led by former township chairman and husband of the current legislative yuan representative, who is one of three men charged with several offences after the incident. An electrical worker explains the incident and shows his injuries.

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77 Year Old Fruit Vendor Nabs Thief

An elderly fruit vendor is seen after grabbing and restraining a much younger thief
Crime and Criminals 
Phillip Charlier 0 Comment , , , ,

Taipei: A 77 year old woman nabbed a 35 year old woman who stole small change from her fruit stand. The thief picked up a bunch of bananas and used it to cover her other hand as she pilfered coins from the fruit vendor’s change tray. The elderly fruit seller observed the incident and grabbed the thief by the arm, holding her until others came to help restrain the offender. The incident was caught on security cam.

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