Group-Buy Operator Sentenced to 11 Years for Fraud Leading to Family of Five's Suicide; Family Calls Sentence Disappointing

(CNA, Taichung, May 20, by reporter Su Mu-chun) A woman surnamed Lee, who incurred debts from her group-buying business and subsequently defrauded a family of five in Fengyuan, Taichung, leading to their suicides, was sentenced to 11 years in prison today by the Taichung District Court in the first trial. The deceased's family stated that they had hoped for justice but the sentence clearly falls short of public expectations. The son-in-law of the Wang family's second daughter, a professional soldier stationed in Pingtung, was unable to attend the hearing today. Through Taichung City Councilor Hsieh Chih-chung of the Democratic Progressive Party, who initially exposed the case, he relayed his hope that the law would bring justice to his wife and her family, ensuring the perpetrator receives severe punishment and pays the due price. However, he stated that today's 11-year sentence is clearly not in line with public expectations. After attending the court hearing, Hsieh Chih-chung told the media that this case involves not a single criminal act but a clear criminal structure, including the group-buy operator surnamed Lee, a beautician surnamed Chang, loan sharks, and violent debt collectors. He argued that the entire criminal group should face legal consequences to comfort the spirits of the deceased and restore justice to society. Hsieh urged that fraud has become a national security issue in Taiwan, causing immense harm to the public, and relevant laws should be amended to impose heavier sentences. He specifically suggested that the law on crimes with aggravated results should include a charge for "fraud causing death" to effectively deter the recurrence of fraud. The Wang family's lawyer, Lin Chiung-chia, stated that the 11-year sentence in the first trial is still too lenient compared to the 15-year sentence sought by the prosecutors. He noted that the defendant's crime was driven by a desire for personal pleasure, creating fake debts that resulted in five deaths, making the act extremely malicious. He added that they will ask the prosecutor to appeal. The woman, surnamed Lee, defrauded a family of five in Fengyuan, Taichung, of over NT$15.36 million due to debts from her group-buying business, ultimately leading to the five suicides. After an investigation, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office indicted Lee on charges including fraud and recommended a heavy sentence of over 15 years, hoping to rectify values through sentencing. After the first trial, the Taichung District Court, considering the gross maliciousness and finding it difficult to believe the defendant had genuine remorse, today sentenced Lee to 5 years and 4 months for violating the Banking Act, and separate terms of 7 months, 7 months, and 10 months for three counts of fraud, plus 4 years and 6 months for extortion. The combined sentence to be executed is 11 years. The case can still be appealed. (Editor: Lee Heng-shan) 1150520 Cherish life. Suicide cannot solve problems; a way out can always be found. For counseling or related assistance, please call the Ministry of Health and Welfare hotline "1925", the Lifeline hotline "1995", or the Teacher Chang service hotline "1980". Choose to stand with the facts, you