Prosecutors launch probe into abrupt closure of True Yoga Taiwan

Taipei, Oct. 15 (CNA) Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the sudden shutdown of True Yoga Fitness after the Singapore-based fitness chain ceased operations last month.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office confirmed Wednesday that it received a criminal complaint from consumers days after True Yoga abruptly suspended operations at six outlets in Taipei, New Taipei, and Taoyuan on Sept. 23.

The company later announced on Sept. 30 that it would cease all operations from Oct. 1 and begin bankruptcy and liquidation proceedings, citing heavy losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and a weak economy.

On Wednesday, a civic group alleged that the collapse may be linked to Chinese state-owned capital infiltrating Taiwanese businesses through complex legal and financial arrangements.

The Taiwan Economic Democracy Union (TEDU) said it will stage a protest on Oct. 20 outside True Yoga's Dunnan flagship branch in Taipei, urging prosecutors to conduct a thorough probe into possible fraud, foreign capital manipulation, and violations of consumer rights.

At a press conference, TEDU researcher Huang Cheng-han (黃承瀚) claimed that the closure was a "deliberately orchestrated act of capital plunder," not simply business mismanagement.

He said True Yoga's shares are fully owned by True Yoga Holdings Limited, in which the Hong Kong-listed Huakang Healthcare Holdings Limited, reportedly tied to Chinese state capital, holds 29 percent -- just under the threshold for foreign investment review.

According to the TEDU, True Yoga's chairman allegedly used dual identities to sign exploitative franchise and loan contracts, systematically draining the company's cash flow and potentially committing breach of trust.

Prosecutors said they will take the civic group's concerns into account as the investigation proceeds.