TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei police are investigating a spiritual healing and meditation center after a member’s death in late September, with four leaders now in custody.

A man surnamed Lin (林), identified as an “Avetan” instructor at the Yishiliu healing center in Taipei, was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead on Sept. 29. Lin was bruised and emaciated and died despite emergency treatment, UDN reported.

Investigators said Lin had been subjected to torture by leaders of the Yishiliu organization. He was allegedly punished for failing to meet recruitment targets intended to finance the group.

Within a week of Lin’s death, four leaders were arrested and detained by Taipei District Prosecutors on suspicion of collusion, attempted murder, and assault resulting in death.

Those detained were identified as founder Wang Yu-chieh (王禹婕), Chief Operating Officer Wang Shao-cheng (王劭丞), Chief Executive Officer Wu Tsong-ru (吳宗儒), and therapist Lin Cheng-yi (林承毅), per UDN. Reports said the suspects may have destroyed evidence related to Lin’s alleged mistreatment at the center, which founder Wang claimed was part of a “treatment program.”

According to a confession by Lin Cheng-yi, the deceased owed the organization money and was being coerced to recruit new members who could pay membership fees.

The victim had attempted to recruit a person surnamed Chiang (江), but Chiang declined due to a membership fee of NT$200,000 (US$6,575), which allegedly angered Wang.

The Yishiliu website describes the group as a center that trains “Holistic Alchemists” of body, mind, and spirit.