A domestic crime ring headed by gangster Lin Ming-hua (
The police, led by Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) Commissioner Hou You-yi (
As well as involvement in the kidnapping case, Lin's crime ring is also suspected of carrying out a deadly shooting spree at a restaurant in Taichung City last November, during which three people were killed and two others critically wounded.
Tsai, who reportedly made his fortune in Chinese real estate, was abducted by gunmen from a construction site in Chiayi County on Oct. 20. The kidnappers then demanded a NT$300 million (US$8.9 million) ransom from his family.
Lin, who was one of the nation's top 10 most-wanted criminals, fell to the ground immediately after being apprehended by police. He died later at a local hospital. Prosecutors suspect that he committed suicide by swallowing poison.
Since Thursday, the police have tracked down and arrested eight of Lin's known associates from across Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung counties. They have also seized a large number of fire-arms, ranging from hand guns and M-16 automatic rifles to Uzi submachine guns during the operations.
Members of Lin's gang were said to be furious at news reports of his death that appeared on TV during the seven-hour-long negotiations between police and the gang that started on Thursday evening and continued into Friday morning. At one point they threatened to kill all reporters surrounding the house.
"Stop showing the news now," a police officer was heard to shout during a United Evening News broadcast of the negotiations, "You will get on their nerves and they might try and shoot you."
The police yesterday condemned certain sections of the media for releasing news of Lin's death too early and endangering the hostage's life.
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