Taiwan's Darkest Hour-Murder of Pai Hsiao Yen

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What happens when the disappearance of a beloved teenager exposes the dark underbelly of a nation? In this gripping episode of Human Wreckage True Crime Podcast, we unravel the tragic case of Pai Hsiao Yen, a 17-year-old abducted on her way to Tsing Wu High School in New Taipei, Taiwan. Listen as we recount the desperate ransom demands, the harrowing involvement of her high-profile parents Pai Ping Ping and Ikki Kajiwara, and the heart-wrenching discovery of Pai's tortured and lifeless body. The case didn't just shake a family; it shook the entire island to its core.

From the frantic search coordinated by thousands of police officers and volunteers to the public outrage that brought high-ranking officials to their knees, this episode delves into the immediate and far-reaching impact of Pai's abduction and murder. Discover how this brutal crime led to intense scrutiny of Taiwan's law enforcement and government, provoking nationwide protests and political fallout. Tune in for a compelling recount of a case that not only highlights a heartbreaking loss but also marks a pivotal moment in Taiwan's battle against rising violent crime.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
In 1997, paisio Yen was abducted as she walked to
Tsing Wu High School in NewTaipei, taiwan.
Her abduction would completelygalvanize the nation.
Welcome to another episode ofHuman Wreckage True Crime
Podcast.
Today we will talk about thecase of Paisio Yen, who vanished
on her way to school one day.
Her disappearance shockedTaiwan.

(00:21):
Please pardon if I mispronounceany names.
I will try my best.
I want to start covering morecases from around the world.
Let me know what you think inthe comments.
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(00:59):
On the 14th of April 1997,17-year-old Pai Tsai Oo Yen was
abducted as she walked to H SingWu High School in Linku
District, new Taipei, taiwan.
Pai was the daughter of TVvariety show host and pop singer
Pai Ping Ping and the Japaneseauthor Ikki Kajiwara.
Her parents would discover thatPai had been abducted later
that afternoon when theyreceived a letter in the mail.

(01:21):
The letter contained aphotograph of Pai.
She was bound, with her facealmost completely covered in the
mail.
The letter contained aphotograph of Pi.
She was bound, with her facealmost completely covered in
masking tape.
The letter also demanded fivemillion dollars for Pi's safe
return.
In the envelope there was alsoa slice of a little finger.
It was Pi's.
The five million ransom was oneof the highest ever on the
island.
Ping Ping and Kajawara decidedthat they wanted to pay the

(01:44):
ransom in four times.
Ping Ping had arranged to meetthe abductors with the ransom
money, but each time they failedto turn up.
Ping Ping and Kajiwara wouldimmediately contact police, but
it was decided that there wouldbe a media blackout.
However, towards the end ofApril Pi still hadn't been found
, so the abduction waspublicized in the media in the
hopes that somebody somewherewould come forward with a lead.

(02:06):
The abduction was publicizedbecause three of the abductors
were identified and apprehended.
These men identified threeother men who were involved in
the abduction.
Police needed the public's helpin tracking them down and
hopefully finding Pye.
While most news outlets hadrespected the blackout, there
were a handful who had gatheredoutside the family's home on a

(02:27):
day-to-day basis, making itabundantly clear to the
abductors that Pi's family hadcontacted police.
Ping Ping appeared at a pressconference and pleaded for the
safe return of her daughter.
She said she had no regrets incontacting police for help,
stating I hope everyone can helpbring back Hsiao-Yen, but if
something unfortunate has reallyhappened, I hope this can be

(02:49):
transformed into increasedpublic awareness.
In an attempt to find Pai, vicePresident Lian Chan ordered
police and military authoritiesto conduct an all-out search for
both Pai and her abductors.
Thousands of police officersand volunteers would comb
throughout the northern Taiwancountryside after receiving a
tip that Pi may have beenabandoned in the rural area.

(03:10):
Fifteen days after Pi wasabducted, there was a crushing
update in the case.
Her nude body was found in adrainage ditch in a mountainous
area near the industrial suburbof Waku.
Her grief-stricken parents weretransported to the crime scene
to identify the body of theironly daughter.
Pi had been strangled to deathand it was estimated she had
been dead for at least eightdays.

(03:31):
Her body was weighed down withiron hammers.
There was evidence that Pi hadbeen tortured before being
killed.
The gruesome discovery outragedthe nation, and police stepped
up the search for the rest ofher killers.
They conducted checks atairports and ports.
Police stepped up the searchfor the rest of her killers.
They conducted checks atairports and ports, fearing that
the remainder of the suspectscould attempt to flee.
Meanwhile, president LeeTeng-hui apologized for the

(03:54):
increasing crime rate in Taiwan.
As head of state, I express mymost sincere apology for the
worsening social law and order.
The government will take fullresponsibility.
The rise in violent crime hadcome after the lifting of
martial law in 1987.
Shortly after his speech,around 50,000 people marched in
Taipei to denounce police andofficials for their inability to

(04:16):
deal with the frightening risein violent crime.
Much of the community demandedthat Vice President and Premier
Lien Chan resign.
He had been the focus of publicanger.
He refused to resign but didsay he would step down once a
revision of the Constitution wascompleted.
He would resign in August ofthat year.
Ping Ping would partially blamethe government for the murder

(04:37):
of her daughter.
She said that police had triedto encourage her not to pay the
ransom and accused them ofbungling the search.
She also blamed the media forcamping outside her home and
following her everywhere, eitherin car or in a helicopter.
In total, 12 people would bearrested in connection with the
gruesome murder, but three wouldescape initial capture.

(04:58):
They were Chen Xin H Singh, linChun Sheng and Cao Tai-Ming.
These three were said to be thering leaders.
In fact, just a couple ofmonths later, these three men
would abduct Song Ming Tang, whowas a counselor, followed by
abducting a businessman.
Then, in August, the three menwere spotted and a gunfight
ensued.
Cheng Sheng turned the gun onhimself after being shot six

(05:20):
times.
The other two men made a quickescape and two months later they
murdered a local plasticsurgeon, his wife and a nurse
after ordering him to performplastic surgery.
The following month the twosurviving suspects were tracked
down.
Thain Minh took his own lifeinstead of surrendering, while
once again Chin H Singh managedto escape.
He later held a family hostagebut surrendered to police

(05:44):
without any more bloodshed.
Chin H Singh would confess tothe murder of of Pi, along with
a string of other crimes.
It was suspected that he wasinvolved in at least 10 murders.
He was executed on the 6th ofOctober 1999.
Horrific case.
Two villains took the easy wayout.
One met justice.
Taiwan is a beautiful countrythat does not experience many

(06:05):
cases like this one.
My heart goes out to Pai SaoYen's family.
Please take care of yourselves.
Thank you.