7 indicted after captives freed during raid on Yunlin greenhouse

Taipei, Nov. 18 (CNA) The Yunlin District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday indicted seven people for allegedly holding multiple people captive in a disused greenhouse.

In a news release, prosecutors said police freed three people and seized heroin, marijuana, amphetamines, riot guns, ammunition, and other contraband during a raid.

According to prosecutors, the captives had been promised high-paying jobs or offered money to provide their names for opening bank accounts used in the fraud.

Based on a preliminary investigation, prosecutors said the group had previously succeeded in swindling victims out of NT$24 million (US$768,960) through a fake investment scheme, converting the money into U.S. dollars and transferring it to overseas banks to conceal the flow of funds.

Prosecutors said that the group's alleged ringleader and three others were detained, while the remaining suspects were later released on bail.

Following the conclusion of the investigation, prosecutors said the seven defendants were indicted Tuesday on charges including violations of the Organized Crime Prevention Act, the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act, the Money Laundering Control Act, as well as offenses of unlawful deprivation of personal liberty and fraud.