Cosplay Agency Financial Dispute Leads to Abduction of 4; 2 Suspects Detained by Taipei Court

According to reports from Central News Agency, a man surnamed Tseng in Taipei was involved in a financial dispute over a cosplay (character role-playing) brokerage arrangement, which led two suspects, surnamed Chao and Chung, to forcibly abduct four individuals—including Tseng and three female cosplayers—into a vehicle at gunpoint using replica firearms on the 13th, shortly after they finished an event.

The Zhonglun Police Station under the Songshan District of Taipei City Police Department received a public report that afternoon about a forced abduction. Police responded immediately and, in coordination with the duty command center, launched a pursuit and interception operation. Within eight minutes of the incident, police intercepted the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Fuxing North Road and Xing'an Street, rescued all four victims unharmed, and subdued the two suspects.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim, Mr. Tseng, and suspect Chao were both engaged in cosplay brokerage work and had previously collaborated frequently. However, a financial disagreement arose, prompting Chao to file fraud charges against Tseng. Frustrated by the lengthy legal process, Chao conspired with Chung to use replica guns to force Tseng and the three female cosplayers into a car to negotiate a NT$500,000 financial dispute.

After intercepting the vehicle, police confirmed that all four victims were unharmed. One replica gun and one riot control gun were seized, along with narcotics including methamphetamine, cannabis vape cartridges, and etomidate-containing cartridges found inside the vehicle and on the suspects’ persons. The case was transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office for investigation on charges of unlawful restraint under the Criminal Code and violations of the Act for the Control and Punishment of Narcotics.

Prosecutors, deeming the suspects’ involvement significant, applied for pre-trial detention without visitation rights. After a court hearing, the Taipei District Court approved the detention of both suspects on the same day. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua)