Family presses Vietnam to probe man's odd death

The family of a Taiwanese businessman who died in Vietnam have questioned the police's assertion that he hanged himself and demanded a thorough investigation into his death.

Hsieh Teh-chou (謝德州), from Changhua County, was found dead in a transit hotel on April 1.

His brother Hsieh Teh-ming (謝德明) yesterday held a press conference with DPP Legislator Wei Ming-ku (魏明谷) to call attention to what they described as the perfunctory handling of the case by the Vietnamese authorities.

Wei said that the lack of a suicide note and a large number of bruises on Hsieh Teh-ming's body suggested that he had not killed himself -- as the Vietnamese police had concluded -- and that he may have been tortured.

Hsieh's family said that nothing on his body indicated that he had been hanged and that the ceiling of the bathroom where his body was found was too low for him to have carried out the act.

Wei urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help investigate the case to ensure the rights of the victim and his family.

Hsieh had initially gone with a friend to Cambodia for business in mid-March and then went by motorcycle to Vietnam to inspect a detergent factory, Wei said.

Vietnamese police arrested Hsieh on charges of illegally entering the country and fined him.

Hsieh's family was informed of his death as they prepared to travel to Vietnam to handle the fine.

Wei and Hsieh's family said they would appeal to the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei today to demand a more thorough investigation.