Kaohsiung fruit stand owner robbed while closing shop; suspect indicted for robbery

(Central News Agency reporter Hong Xue-Guang, Kaohsiung, 3rd) A fruit stand in Fengshan, Kaohsiung was robbed recently. The owner, Ms. Xiao (54), was attacked from behind with a glass bottle by a man surnamed Li (53) while closing her stall. He stole over NT$30,000. Li was subdued by helpful citizens while fleeing, and Ms. Xiao was taken to the hospital with no serious injuries. The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office has concluded its investigation and indicted Li on robbery charges.

The Fengshan Precinct of the Kaohsiung City Police Department stated today that Ms. Xiao operates a fruit stand on Pingdeng Road. Around 7 p.m. on a recent day, while she was closing up, Li, who was in urgent need of money due to an NT$8,000 debt, arrived at the scene on a motorcycle, concealing a glass soy sauce bottle.

Taking advantage of Ms. Xiao turning her back to tidy the stall, Li struck her head violently with the glass bottle, subdued her, and forcibly took her waist pouch containing over NT$30,000 in cash and a mobile phone before fleeing.

After being robbed, Ms. Xiao shouted "Robbery!" and chased after him. Two passersby, Mr. Guo and Mr. Qiu, heard her cries, gave chase on their motorcycles, and successfully caught up with Li at the intersection of Guanghua Road, where they jointly subdued him. Police arrived at the scene and seized the waist pouch and related tools. Ms. Xiao suffered a head contusion and scalp hematoma but was treated at the hospital and is out of danger.

The police stated that the case was transferred to the Taiwan Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office on charges of robbery with a deadly weapon under the Criminal Code, and the prosecution has concluded its investigation and filed an indictment. The Fengshan Precinct also thanked the热心 citizens for their bravery and timely assistance in subduing the suspect, demonstrating the spirit of police-citizen cooperation in maintaining public safety. (Editor: Wu Surou) 1150603