3 suspects arrested, 1 at large after fatal drug debt row in Kaohsiung

Taipei, Sept. 28 (CNA) Three suspects have been arrested and one remains at large after a dispute over drug debt in Kaohsiung left one man dead and two others seriously injured, local authorities said.

The Kaohsiung City Police Department said the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday at an out-of-business health spa on Baotai Road in Fengshan District.

Police said three male friends, surnamed Lee (李), Lin (林) and Chuang (莊), met at the location to discuss a drug debt with another group of men, when a conflict broke out and they were attacked with clubs and knives.

During the brawl, Lee suffered serious injuries to the head, lost consciousness and was later declared dead. Lin and Chuang also suffered multiple injuries and were taken to an area hospital, police said.

As part of their investigation, police used surveillance video footage to track down four suspects in the attack, who were observed leaving the scene together in a car.

Three of the suspects were later arrested, while one remained at large as of Monday afternoon.

The incident, which remains under investigation, is believed to have stemmed from a dispute over drug debts, police said.

Additional details reported in local media

According to a United Daily News report, the group of four attackers included two brothers in their 40s, surnamed Tung (童), who were upset about being pushed to repay around NT$10,000 (US$314.55) in a drug debt they owed to a member of Lee's group.

The two groups met to negotiate around 2 a.m. at the spa, which had recently gone out of business and had rental studio apartments above it, the report said, though it did not specify why that location was chosen.

According to the report, the Tung brothers and their accomplices came armed with knives and clubs and blocked the door to the spa while Lee and his friends were inside.

They then attacked Lee's group as they tried to escape the spa, seriously injuring Lee, who fled about 100 meters on foot before collapsing in the street, the report said.

The Liberty Times reported, however, that the attack was not due to a "debt" but came after the attackers were told by Lee, Lin and Chuang that they could not buy about NT$10,000 worth of a zombie drug on credit.