Investigators yesterday summoned two women, surnamed Chang (張) and Lee (李), for questioning following the deaths of five members of a Taichung family, who allegedly ended their lives after falling victim to a scam ring touting fraudulent gold investments.
Chang is a cosmetologist and a friend of the eldest daughter of the family, while Lee allegedly was the intermediary to buy the gold and could be working for an investment scam ring, according to a statement by Taichung’s Fongyuan Police Precinct.
Taichung prosecutors and police announced the launch of the investigation at a news conference yesterday, following the discovery of five bodies at their home in Fongyuan District (豐原) on Wednesday.
Photo: Chang Hsuan-tse, Taipei Times
Police said the victims had killed themselves, as four of the five had left suicide notes.
The notes stated that they had been “deceived by a gold investment scheme,” were “accumulating heavier and heavier debts,” and were “unable to solve their problems and decided to commit suicide at home,” after allegedly incurring millions of New Taiwan dollars in debts, police said.
Taichung City Councilor Hsieh Chih-chung (謝志忠) said the family last week had visited his office to seek help, and his aides recommended they go to the police, as the debts were growing due to compound loan interest.
The family had come under pressure and were living in fear due to threats of violence, as loan sharks and scam rings had sent people to their home to demand money from them, Hsieh said.
The family consisted of elderly parents, as well as two daughters and a son in their 20s and 30s.
The family had put up their house as collateral to the value of NT$8 million (US$276,520), but were still carrying NT$5 million of debt, as well as high-interest loans to loan sharks and pawnshops, Hsieh said, adding that these contributed to their decision to commit suicide.
For those incurring debt from fraudulent investment schemes, Hsieh said that people could apply for legal aid and to arrange longer-term repayment plans with their lenders.
They could also obtain a court injunction for temporary measures against illegal lenders, Hsieh added.
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