Taiwan man arrested after Thai girlfriend’s body found in freezer

TAIPEI — A 43-year-old Taiwanese man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his 36-year-old Thai girlfriend and storing her body in a freezer at his workplace in Taichung, Taiwanese police said.

The suspect, surnamed Wu, was arrested on 20 September after Taipei police investigating the woman’s disappearance traced him to Taichung and searched his workplace, where they found her body.

According to the Taipei City Police Department’s Wanhua Precinct, the woman, identified by local media as Arth, met Wu while he was travelling in Thailand. The pair had been in a long-distance relationship for about a year, with each travelling between Taiwan and Thailand to visit the other.

Police said the woman travelled to Taiwan on 2 September and checked into a hotel in Taipei’s Ximending area. She had reportedly travelled to Taiwan to end the relationship.

Her family lost contact with her, and Taiwanese friends reported her missing to police on 8 September, according to the Central News Agency (CNA).

Police reviewing surveillance footage found Wu entering the hotel on 12 September and leaving in the early hours of 13 September carrying a large suitcase. He was later seen placing the suitcase in the trunk of his car before driving to Taichung, police said.

During questioning, Wu allegedly told investigators that he lost his temper after the woman asked to end their relationship and strangled her. CNA reported that Wu claimed the killing was accidental.

Police subsequently searched the technology company where Wu works in an administrative role and found the woman’s body in a freezer early on 19 September.

A preliminary forensic examination indicated that the woman had been strangled, police said.

Wu was referred to prosecutors for further investigation on suspicion of homicide.