A 21-year-old woman surnamed Chen tragically died after reportedly being confined by her 50-year-old mother for three years, leaving her with a frail body weighing just 30 kilograms, in an incident that has shocked the community.
Authorities intervened following the discovery, and the mother has been taken into custody while the father was released on bail of NT$10,000 (approximately MYR 1,440). On Mid-Autumn Festival, October 6, only two of Chen’s classmates attended her modest memorial service. Her father, citing cultural customs, did not attend, and after the cremation, only her sister was present to send her off. Funeral staff described the ceremony as unusually simple and sparse.
Investigations revealed that Chen had been confined in her room for three years and that her death was likely caused by malnutrition, with no visible external injuries found during autopsy. Police confirmed through interviews with neighbors and classmates that the mother was involved in inappropriate confinement and care of her daughter. Following the investigation, prosecutors successfully petitioned for the mother’s detention, while the father was also named a defendant and released on bail of NT$10,000 (approximately MYR 1,440).
The case has ignited widespread public outrage, highlighting concerns about domestic abuse and parental negligence.
