Police last night arrested 16 people who appeared to impersonate security staff to break into Kaohsiung’s Park One International Hospital, overpowering security guards, breaking equipment, and scaring patients and medical personnel.
The leaders, a 48-year-old woman surnamed Juan (阮) and her 34-year-old younger brother, allegedly threatened to overtake the hospital's security team and claimed ownership of the hospital and its equipment.
Initial investigations have found that none of those arrested were licensed security guards at the hospital, police said.
Photo courtesy of a member of the public
Reports said that a similar incident occurred at the hospital several months ago, although it is yet to be confirmed if the two events were related and whether it is linked to gang activity.
The Kaohsiung Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Corps and Zuoying Precinct have formed a task force to pursue the case as a potential organized crime incident, they said.
The Juan siblings allegedly lured security staff into opening the door in the early hours of this morning, before leading in a group of about 20 people wearing all black, upon which a physical altercation broke out with the hospital's official security guards.
Using strength in numbers, the group gained control and damaged equipment in the facility’s IT room, witnesses said.
Police from Zuoying Precinct arrived on the scene and requested the group to leave the premises before calling on the hospital’s director and another doctor to mediate.
Tensions then escalated as the doctors and intruders began to shout and make accusations, failing to reach a resolution and leading the hospital to file criminal complaints against the group for theft, property damage, and breaking and entering.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) requested Kaohsiung Police Commissioner Lin Yen-tien (林炎田) to take over the case.
The Kaohsiung Health Bureau said it would fine the Juan siblings under the Medical Care Act (醫療法) if any property was found to be damaged or they disrupted patient care.
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