The Taipei District Court has ordered the detention of four people allegedly linked to a spiritual healing center following the death of a 30-year-old man who was found unresponsive at the facility last week.
The four are to be held incommunicado during the investigation.
The court on Friday and Saturday approved the detention of Wang Yu-chieh (王禹婕), founder of the ASL International Body-Mind-Spirit Healing Academy, along with her brother and operations director Wang Shao-cheng (王劭丞), chief executive officer Wu Tsung-ju (吳宗儒), and healer-consultant Lin Cheng-yi (林承毅), on suspicion of unlawful confinement and fatal abuse.
Photo: Wang Meng-lun, Taipei Times
Police said the deceased, surnamed Lin (林), was found without vital signs late on Monday last week at the academy in Taipei’s Zhongshan District (中山) and was pronounced dead early the next day.
Prosecutors found bruises on his face and body, adding that he was severely emaciated, leading to suspicions that he had been abused before his death.
According to local media, Lin had lived at the center for about five years, and was reportedly subjected to strict dietary restrictions and pressured to recruit new participants.
When a potential recruit declined to join, the leadership allegedly held a “criticism meeting” where Lin was beaten and denied food.
The four were detained after police reviewed surveillance footage and other evidence, but they denied assaulting Lin, saying his injuries were caused by “full-body prostration” and “slapping therapy,” which they said were part of the center’s “healing practices.”
Founded in 2015, the organization promoted courses such as “chakra diagnosis” and “energy worship,” with annual fees reportedly reaching NT$200,000, according to local media.
The academy has previously appeared in promotional features portraying it as an “international holistic institute,” although much of the coverage was reportedly paid advertising.
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