Vietnamese group suspected of murdering compatriots in Taiwan

A group of Vietnamese immigrants were arrested by Taiwanese authorities on charges of participating in the kidnapping, extortion and murder of a fellow countryman.

The Yunlin District Prosecutors Office in Taiwan last weekend asked the court to approve a detention order after four Vietnamese migrant workers and a Taiwanese were arrested on charges of kidnapping and murdering a 24-year-old Vietnamese citizen. Prosecutors fear the suspects will flee and compromise their statements if released on bail.

Prosecutor Chu Chi-jen said police received information about a person who died in Baozhong Township, Yunlin County on April 10. After conducting an autopsy, police determined that the victim was a Vietnamese migrant worker with the surname Vu.

Police investigated, searched the place where Vu was detained and arrested three Vietnamese men identified by the surnames Le, Hoang and Vo Duy. Police later arrested a Vietnamese woman with the surname Nguyen and a Taiwanese man with the surname Hsu.

Taiwanese police search the residence of a Vietnamese suspect in Yunlin County. Photo: CNA

According to the investigation records, Nguyen met Vu online and learned about the victim's family's financial situation. Nguyen and Le then planned to kidnap Vu for ransom in March.

Nguyen lured Vu, who worked in Taoyuan City, to Douluo City in Yunlin County. When Vu showed up, Le and his accomplices forced him into a car and locked him in a factory dormitory in Sihu Township, according to prosecutors. The suspects then video -called Vu’s family in Vietnam to demand NT$250,000 (US$8,800) in ransom.

After Vu's family transferred the money, the suspects continued to hold the victim in a motel in Bao Trung instead of releasing her as promised, with the intention of continuing to extort money but failed.

Police said that while Vu was in custody, the suspects stuffed tissue in his mouth and wrapped duct tape around his face to prevent him from calling for help. The investigation team determined that this may have been the cause of Vu's death and that the suspects disposed of his body at a sugarcane farm in Bao Trung town.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today that the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei has contacted Taiwanese authorities and has initially verified the identity of the victim. Taiwanese police have also provided information about the arrested Vietnamese to assist in the investigation.

Vietnam is coordinating with Taiwanese authorities to clarify the personal information of those involved, take appropriate citizen protection measures, and ensure the legitimate rights of Vietnamese citizens, in accordance with local laws, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Thanh Tam (According to Focus Taiwan )

Source: https://vnexpress.net/nhom-nguoi-viet-bi-nghi-sat-hai-dong-huong-o-dai-loan-4735655.html