Man Suspected of Masterminding Shooting of Influencer Arrested Upon Return to Taiwan

(CNA, by reporter Huang Kuo-fang, Chiayi City, May 19) Last July, internet influencer "Pineapple" Wu Hung-yi was driving with his wife in Chiayi City when a man surnamed Hsieh fired 12 shots at their car. The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office has already indicted three individuals for assisting the suspect's escape and hiding him. Chen, the man suspected of masterminding the plot and who had fled the country, returned to Taiwan yesterday and was arrested by the police. The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office issued a press release stating that a warrant had been issued for the suspect, Mr. Chen, in the shooting case of influencer "Pineapple" Wu Hung-yi's vehicle. During the wanted period, Chen fled to Malaysia but later voluntarily announced through the media on May 17 of this year his willingness to return to Taiwan to surrender, explain the case, and face his previous sentence. The Chiayi Prosecutors stated that Chen took a flight yesterday afternoon and arrived in Taiwan at around 10 p.m. the same day. The prosecutors closely monitored the entire process and directed the police to arrest him upon entry in accordance with the law. He is currently being further interrogated by the First Precinct of the Chiayi City Police Department, which is investigating the shooting. The prosecutors explained that besides his involvement in the Chiayi shooting, Chen was also involved in other cases related to the Controlling Guns, Ammunition and Knives Act. He had been sentenced to a definitive 3 years and 8 months in prison and a fine of NT$50,000, but was wanted by the Tainan District Prosecutors Office for failing to report for his sentence. According to prosecutors and police, the investigation revealed that the gunman, Hsieh, Mr. Chen, and another man of unknown identity nicknamed "A-Yong" are suspected of jointly planning the shooting of Wu Hung-yi, as well as the subsequent escape route and hiding of the criminal tools. According to statements from other accomplices, Chen was responsible for arranging the getaway, not only planning the gunman's escape route but also conducting reconnaissance at the crime scene beforehand, which enabled the continuous change of transportation to evade capture. According to the indictment from the Chiayi District Prosecutors Office, the men surnamed Hsieh and Chen are suspected of jointly plotting to shoot Wu Hung-yi. Hsieh allegedly followed Wu's car on a motorcycle to Section 2, Bo'ai Road, Chiayi City on the evening of July 15 last year. While stopped at a red light, he fired 12 shots at Wu's vehicle with a non-standard handgun. No one in the car was injured. The prosecutors stated that the investigation of the entire case concluded last October. The gunman, Hsieh, and the alleged mastermind, Chen, were at large and wanted. The men who assisted the gunman, Lin and Chang, were indicted for charges including aiding attempted murder, and another man surnamed Chang was later additionally indicted for harboring the gunman.