Authorities in Taiwan have put serious accusations against a woman, alleging that she hid her dead father’s body in her home for years to falsely claim his military pension. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, lives in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan and had reportedly resided with her father for over five decades. The initial suspicions were first raised in November after she was fined NT$60,000 (approximately Rs 1.50 lakh) for obstructing health officials from applying dengue prevention chemicals in her residence. Her constant refusal raised concerns and prompted police involvement. During the probe, when officers interrogated the woman regarding her father’s whereabouts, she falsely asserted that her father was living in a nursing facility.
According to South China Morning Post, the woman’s father was a military veteran who served the country for over 20 years. This enabled him to receive a monthly pension based on his rank and service record. Although specific details of his military service were not disclosed, Taiwanese military veterans typically receive an average monthly pension of NT$49,379 (approximately Rs 1.27 lakh).
Meanwhile, upon further investigation and questioning, the woman altered her story, claiming that her brother had transported their father to the mainland. However, this narrative was dismissed later when the authorities found evidence that the brother had passed away almost 50 years ago and there were no records that her father left Taiwan. Struggling to maintain credibility, she once again changed her opinion and told police that her father had passed away on the mainland. When they asked for his death certificate, the woman alleged that she was in the process of applying for the document.
Following the woman’s unstable statements, authorities conducted a search of the premises and discovered a black plastic garbage bag containing the remains of an elderly individual. Upon investigation, police found that the man had been deceased for a long time. Additionally, forensic experts revealed that it typically takes one to two years for a body to decompose into skeletal remains. While the strongest smell comes two weeks after someone dies, it usually goes away after almost a month. As of now, the investigation about the cause of the man’s death is ongoing and authorities will determine whether the woman committed a serious crime beyond just hiding her father’s body.
In Taiwan, penalties for offenses related to mistreating or mishandling a corpse can be severe, as individuals can face up to five years in prison. On the other hand, if such crime involves a direct relative or close family member, the sentence may be increased by 1.5 times.
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