High-Ranking Taiwan Police Official Accused of Extortion and Debt Collection

A Police Commissioned Officer is under investigation for allegedly pressuring a Taipei restaurant owner to repay a loan early, triggering a probe into potential extortion.

By a Reporter

In a developing story, the Taiwan National Police Agency (警政署) is investigating a high-ranking officer, identified as Huang, a commissioned officer (專門委員), in connection with allegations of extortion and coercion related to a debt of ten million New Taiwan Dollars (NTD). The Taipei District Prosecutors Office (台北地檢署) has opened an investigation, suspecting Huang of threatening and coercing the owner of a Taipei restaurant to accelerate loan repayments.

According to the investigation, Huang allegedly visited the restaurant in Taipei in 2023, demanding that the owner pay back the loan, including principal and interest, ahead of schedule. The prosecutors' office believes Huang's actions may constitute extortion and coercion. On the 19th of the month, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office (台北地檢署) conducted a search of Huang's residence, in cooperation with the Taiwan National Police Agency (警政署) and the Investigation Bureau (調查局). Huang and a female friend, identified as Lin, were questioned as suspects.

It has been revealed that the officer, Huang, a three-line-two-star (三線二星) officer, had previously been disciplined for his involvement with an illegal underground money exchange business, the 88 Club. In early 2023, Huang allegedly lent money through proxies to the owner of a restaurant in Taipei's Da'an District (大安區). The loan agreement included specific interest terms, and the owner provided promissory notes as collateral.

However, the investigation suggests that Huang, possibly concerned about investigations into the source of the loan, personally visited the restaurant in 2023 and intimidated the owner into early repayment. Out of fear of the officer's position, the restaurant owner signed new, immediate-payment promissory notes and repaid the loan, including interest, within months. The restaurant has since closed.

The investigation was initiated by the Taiwan National Police Agency (警政署) itself. Prosecutor Huang Pei-yu (黃珮瑜) is overseeing the investigation, with the assistance of the Police Supervision Office and the Taipei City Investigation Office of the Investigation Bureau. On the 19th, the authorities searched the residences of Huang and his female friend, Lin, and questioned them along with four other individuals believed to be proxies or associates. The investigation is focusing on charges of extortion and coercion.