Mother of abused infant arrested, ordered detained over separate crime

New Taipei, Aug. 1 (CNA) The mother of Kai Kai (剴剴), the infant who died from abuse in foster care in late 2023, has been arrested and ordered detained by a New Taipei court in connection with a separate criminal case dating back to a 2021 assault.

Liu (劉), 29, was arrested Thursday morning in Taichung's Shalu District and taken to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office for questioning later that evening.

In 2021, Liu reportedly lured her ex-boyfriend's new partner to a rented apartment, where she assaulted her, forced her to take drugs, and filmed the incident.

The victim later escaped and reported the incident to police, leading to Liu's arrest and detention by New Taipei prosecutors.

Police said that when the case was brought before the New Taipei District Court that same year, Liu was about five months pregnant and successfully applied for bail, which was granted in October, at NT$30,000 (US$1,001).

She was supposed to pay bail after giving birth and being discharged from hospital in February 2022, but absconded, prompting the New Taipei court to issue a warrant for her arrest.

On Friday, the court said Liu had been indicted on charges including robbery, drug offenses and sexual assault.

Given the severity of the charges -- which carry a sentence of at least five years in prison -- and concerns she may flee again, the court approved the prosecution's request to detain her.

After Liu gave birth, and with the whereabouts of Kai Kai's father unknown, custody of the boy was transferred to his grandmother. In June 2023, she expressed her intention to place him for adoption, and the case was taken over by the Child Welfare League Foundation.

The foundation later arranged full-time foster care for Kai Kai with two nannies -- sisters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Juo-lin (劉若琳). Less than four months after being placed in their care, he died on Dec. 24, 2023, from abuse.

In May, the Taipei District Court sentenced the sisters to life imprisonment and 18 years, respectively.