Kaohsiung man indicted for arson after dispute with mother over inheritance
A man in Kaohsiung's Siaogang District was indicted for attempted arson after setting fire to his home during a dispute with his mother over inheritance and living expenses. No injuries occurred, and the house was not destroyed.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 27, 2026 at 15:09
- 🔍 Collected: May 31, 2026 at 23:42 (104h 33m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 2, 2026 at 01:04 (25h 21m after Collected)
A man surnamed Chang in Kaohsiung's Siaogang District, having argued with his mother over his father's inheritance and living expenses, used a back scratcher to set fire to multiple areas of their home. The fire spread to a laundry shop on the first floor and living areas on the second and third floors, but fortunately, no one was injured. The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office has indicted the man for attempted arson.
During the investigation, the 52-year-old suspect admitted to setting the fire due to the dispute. Prosecutors determined based on damage photos that the main structure of the house was not destroyed and remained functional. The mother has since renovated the property and moved back in. The case was concluded with an indictment for attempted arson.
According to the indictment, Chang lived with his mother in Siaogang District. On the night of December 22 last year, a dispute over inheritance and living expenses led him to harbor resentment. He wrapped a bamboo back scratcher in bubble wrap, lit it with a lighter, and set fire to multiple locations, including the west wall and laundry racks on the first floor, a long table and wooden cabinet on the second floor, and near chairs in the third-floor living room.
The fire spread quickly, causing severe damage to laundry equipment and customer clothing on the first floor, as well as furniture, appliances, bankbooks, and important documents on the second and third floors. The Kaohsiung Fire Bureau received the report, arrived at 10:31 PM, and extinguished the fire by 10:48 PM. Firefighters found Chang lying on a bed in a second-floor bedroom in a semi-conscious state and sent him to the hospital for treatment.
During the investigation, the 52-year-old suspect admitted to setting the fire due to the dispute. Prosecutors determined based on damage photos that the main structure of the house was not destroyed and remained functional. The mother has since renovated the property and moved back in. The case was concluded with an indictment for attempted arson.
According to the indictment, Chang lived with his mother in Siaogang District. On the night of December 22 last year, a dispute over inheritance and living expenses led him to harbor resentment. He wrapped a bamboo back scratcher in bubble wrap, lit it with a lighter, and set fire to multiple locations, including the west wall and laundry racks on the first floor, a long table and wooden cabinet on the second floor, and near chairs in the third-floor living room.
The fire spread quickly, causing severe damage to laundry equipment and customer clothing on the first floor, as well as furniture, appliances, bankbooks, and important documents on the second and third floors. The Kaohsiung Fire Bureau received the report, arrived at 10:31 PM, and extinguished the fire by 10:48 PM. Firefighters found Chang lying on a bed in a second-floor bedroom in a semi-conscious state and sent him to the hospital for treatment.
FAQ
Where is Siaogang District?
A district in Kaohsiung City, southern Taiwan.