Taipei: The Taipei District Court has ordered the detention of four individuals connected to a spiritual healing center following the death of a 30-year-old man found unresponsive at the facility last week. The four have been barred from contact with others during the investigation.
According to Focus Taiwan, the court approved the detention of Wang Yu-chieh, founder of the ASL International Body-Mind-Spirit Healing Academy, her brother and operations director Wang Shao-cheng, chief executive officer Wu Tsung-ju, and healer-consultant Lin Cheng-yi. They are suspected of unlawful confinement and fatal abuse. The deceased, identified only by his surname Lin, was discovered without vital signs late on September 29 at the academy in Taipei’s Zhongshan District and was pronounced dead early the following day.
Prosecutors found bruises on Lin’s face and body, noting his severe emaciation, which raised suspicions of prior abuse. Local media reported that Lin had resided at the center for approximately five years, during which he allegedly faced strict dietary restrictions and pressure to recruit new participants. When a potential recruit declined to join, the leadership purportedly held a “criticism meeting” where Lin was beaten and denied food.
The four suspects were detained after police reviewed surveillance footage and other evidence. However, they denied the assault allegations, claiming Lin’s injuries resulted from “full-body prostration” and “slapping therapy,” which they described as part of the center’s “healing practices.”
The organization, founded in 2015, promoted courses such as “chakra diagnosis” and “energy worship,” with annual fees reportedly reaching NT$200,000 (US$6,580), as reported by local media. The academy has previously been featured in promotional materials portraying it as an “international holistic institute,” though much of this coverage was reportedly paid advertising.
