Taiwan Quick Take: Bank robber kills himself

Lin Cheng-chi (林政志) shot himself dead yesterday shortly after he allegedly robbed a bank in Chiayi County. Lin, 34, reportedly robbed King's Town Bank in Chungpu (中埔) Township, Chiayi County, yesterday morning. He fled with more than NT$300,000 in cash, reports said, but suffered leg wounds while escaping during a gunbattle with police. In the afternoon, police found Lin dead in his car, apparently from self-inflicted gunshot wounds, in Chuchi (竹崎) Township. Police also found two pistols, six bullets, money and a letter to his family saying he was sorry in the car. Police suspected Lin committed suicide after realizing that he would be unable to escape the attention of the authorities for long, given the severity of his wounds. Since Lin's family, which has a large betel nut plantation in the county, is considered relatively wealthy, police are trying to discover a motive for the crime.