TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Schools across north Taiwan Wednesday (May 22) closed their doors to visitors and beefed up security after a man convicted of attempted murder who escaped from a psychiatric hospital was spotted in Taipei.
The man surnamed Chien (簡), who was being held under guardianship before serving his prison sentence escaped a mental hospital in Keelung on Sunday (May 19) and was seen taking a bus to Taipei on Tuesday (May 21), reported UDN. Schools in Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung, and Yilan announced on Wednesday that they would be closed to the public.
At around 10 a.m. on Sunday, Chien took advantage of an exercise break to escape the psychiatric hospital. Police immediately notified the Taipei District Prosecutors Office and contacted Chien's mother, who lives in New Taipei.
Police said Chien did not return home and have issued a warrant for his arrest.
In January last year, Chien attacked a woman in Taipei's Wanhua District with a bottle and other objects, causing lacerations to her head and neck. Chien was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
The Taipei District Court found him guilty of attempted murder, but because he has schizophrenia sentenced him to three years in prison. Before serving his sentence, he was ordered to undergo five years of guardianship in a Keelung hospital.
According to the latest information from the police, after roaming around Keelung on Sunday, Chien boarded a bus at the intersection of Yiyi and Xinliu Road headed toward New Taipei.
He got off midway at Zhongzheng Road on Sunday afternoon. He then transferred to the 1579 Capital Bus heading to Taipei, getting off at the intersection of Nanjing and Sanmin Road.
Police believe Chien is currently hiding in Taipei and are actively searching for him.
Police said that when Chien left the hospital, he was wearing a white shirt, a long-sleeved plaid shirt over it, and black trousers. He is 172 cm tall, had no valuables, and was not using a mobile phone.
