Notorious gangster dies after shooting in Taichung teashop

Notorious gangster Lin Chen-hsing (林振興), who was shot in Taichung on Friday, died in hospital yesterday.

Lin, 47, who was released on bail by Tainan judges earlier this month, was a member of notorious kidnapper Chang Hsi-ming's (張錫銘) crime ring and was a "boss" in the Taichung area.

Tainan prosecutors and judges have been investigating Lin's involvement in several kidnappings in which Chang has been implicated, including those of former Taichung City Council vice speaker Chang Hung-nien (張宏年) in 2001 and businessman Yu Kuo-chu (于國柱) in 2005, among others.

Chang Hsi-ming (張錫銘), was arrested in July 2005 and was sentenced by Tainan District Court to life in prison last July.

Lin was arrested by Chinese police in January and was subsequently deported to Taiwan.

Last July Tainan prosecutors indicted Lin for his role in several kidnappings and asked Tainan District Court to sentence him to death.

However, on March 6, Tainan District Court judges released him on bail of NT$1 million (US$30,260).

Taichung police said Lin was with friends at a teashop in Taichung on Friday afternoon when a man wearing a helmet burst into the shop and opened fire on Lin, who was hit by five bullets.

Police said the suspect ran off and escaped on a scooter driven by an accomplice.

Lin was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died yesterday afternoon.

Taichung police were out in force yesterday in an effort to prevent possible gang-related revenge attacks.

Tainan prosecutor Tsai Ying-Chun (蔡英俊), who indicted Lin, told reporters yesterday he was upset and confused about why the court had freed Lin, a suspect facing serious criminal charges.

He said a Tainan prosecutor attending Lin's hearing had protested when judges agreed to release Lin, but the court ignored his objection.

Tainan District Court yesterday released a press statement maintaining that Lin's release was legal.

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