TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The body of an undocumented Thai migrant worker who had gone missing was found at a dam in northeast Taiwan on Tuesday (May 28).
The 30-something man who came to Taiwan on a tourist visa and was working illegally in Yilan County's Jiaoxi Township, had gone missing, reported Liberty Times. It is thought he was disposed of by his employer at an earthfill dam near a cemetery on Monday.
On Tuesday, Yilan police received a report from the Thai consulate that a family could not reach the Thai migrant worker and requested assistance. Jiaoxi police immediately went to the workplace to search for him.
The 44-year-old employer, surnamed Lin (林), was evasive when questioned by officers. He eventually confessed that the Thai migrant worker had died and that he and a few others had disposed of the body.
According to Lin, due to the Thai man's drinking habit, he was unwell last week but did not seek medical attention and only took over-the-counter medication to cope. On Monday afternoon, his Thai girlfriend found him dead in their dormitory and immediately contacted Lin.
Fearing a police investigation into his illegal hiring practices, Lin, allegedly determined to dispose of the worker's body. The deceased man's girlfriend and two other Thai migrant workers initially objected to abandoning his body, but because the workers were employed by Lin, they felt they had no choice but to agree, reported Liberty Times,
On Monday evening Lin, along with his wife and two Thai migrant workers, drove the body to the earthfill dam near Yinghua Cemetery and disposed of it.
Following Lin's account, police went to the site and found the body of the Thai worker.
Since the body showed no obvious external injuries, the cause of death is still being determined. The police and prosecutors will further investigate the circumstances of the man's death and all individuals involved in the case.
Lin is being investigated on suspicion of abandonment of a corpse (遺棄屍體罪). In addition, if Lin is found to have employed migrant workers who overstayed their visas, he will face further legal action.
