Japan's Yamanashi Prefecture's Fuji River Mouth Town saw a mysterious murder case on October 11. At the hotel, 38-year-old Taiwanese visitor Ying Yunrong was slashed by her female accomplice, 27-year-old Yang Minhan. The motive behind the case remained unclear. According to Taiwan-based Mirror Weekly, a Chinese-language tabloid, the case involves Ying's newly-wed husband, who was married for just three months, surnamed Li. Li is suspected of fraudulently claiming NT$30 million (approximately HK$7.3 million) in insurance, with Yang Minhan, his ex-girlfriend, and they reportedly arranged a sham marriage followed by a murder. Mirror Weekly disclosed on Tuesday (October 27) that Ying met a 29-year-old surnamed Li, who worked as her employer via social platform Threads, for a part-time assistant job in May. Li proposed to her shortly after, promising four million NT dollars (approximately HK$965,000) for a male child and five million NT dollars (approximately HK$1.2 million) for a female child, and they married in July. However, Li forced his wife to sign an NT$15 million (approximately HK$3.65 million) bank draft in September, using his history as a money launderer for fraudsters as a threat. He then bought Ying two lucrative life and accident insurance policies worth NT$30 million (approximately HK$7.3 million) under the pretense of securing her future. After the policies took effect, Li even coldly suggested that Ying consider "cutting a finger or toe to claim a larger payout." Ying felt extremely fear. Initially planning an independent trip to Japan in September, she fell on the railway in her hometown of Tainan and missed her journey. She later told the police she did not attempt suicide but simply had an accident. However, the police charged her with public disturbance after reviewing surveillance footage. Concerned for her life, Ying previously sought help from the media and friends, warning that her husband might plan to harm her. On October 17, he again arranged a trip for Ying to Japan, stating that he would have a shuttle bus ready for her in Tainan when she returned from Japan. Because of her back injury, Ying was reluctant to go out, but fearing her husband's anger, she eventually agreed but secretly hired a friend to rent a car to ensure her safety. After receiving information from Mirror Weekly, Taiwanese police found that Yang Minhan and Li Liang had frequent private interactions, suggesting they were once lovers, and Y's background was suspicious, which made Li suspected of inciting Y to murder for insurance fraud. Police are currently investigating whether Li was involved in the incitement. After his wife's death, Li, as the husband, flew to Japan to handle the funeral arrangements. On October 24, he was arrested at Kaohsiung's Kaohsiung International Airport for the murder and the fabrication of evidence.
The investigation further revealed that Li had coerced Ying into signing a significant loan, claiming it was for their child's sake, even suggesting a strategy as extreme as "cutting a finger or toe" to fraudulently claim insurance payouts. Ying, deeply concerned for her own safety and that of her child, had plans to secretly book a rental car for her own protection, despite her injuries. The frequent communication between Yang Minhan and Li Liang, as well as their past relationship, raises suspicions about their motive behind the murder. Their cooperation on insurance policies may have been a calculated ploy to exploit Ying's life insurance coverage. Meanwhile, Yang Minhan, who has a background possibly linked to a fraud syndicate, was detained, intensifying the suspicions about Li's involvement in orchestrating this intricate scheme.
The tensions and manipulations within Ying Yunrong's personal life are starkly apparent. Her husband's history in money laundering and his actions to quickly secure a loan and insurance policies during her hospitalization paint a disturbing picture. This case underscores the complexities of domestic and financial insecurity, with the potential for severe consequences when trust is compromised. As the investigation continues, the motives behind the murder and the extent of Li's involvement in the insurance scheme remain the focal points of scrutiny.