On 4 May 2023, an 18-year-old Taiwanese high school student surnamed Lai married a 26-year-old man, Hsia Chao-yuan. Two hours after the marriage registration, the student fell to his death in Beitun District, Taichung.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Owing to the unclear circumstances surrounding the fall and the complicated background of the deceased's family,[7][8] as well as the fact that the student had just inherited real estate valued at approximately NT$500 million (with some estimates placing the value at over NT$1.2 billion),[9] the case attracted widespread public attention and discussion after being reported by the media.
| Date | May 4, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
| Deaths | 1 |
Case overview
editThe grandfather of the Lai family high school student entrusted a scrivener surnamed Hsia with transferring land to the student by way of gift.
At around 7:00 a.m. on 4 May 2023, Hsia Chao-yuan, the son of the scrivener, met with the 18-year-old student. They recruited two strangers as witnesses and registered a same-sex marriage at a household registration office. The two then went to Hsia Chao-yuan's apartment on Hanxi West Road Section 3 in Beitun District, Taichung. Two hours later, the student was found lying downstairs and was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.[4] When he was discovered, his skull was intact and there were no obvious bloodstains at the scene. Initial reports to emergency services described the incident as a person collapsing on the street.[10][11]
Criminal investigation
edit| 2023 Taichung inheritance case | |
|---|---|
| Court | Taiwan High Court, Taichung Branch |
| Decided | 28 June 2024 |
| Cases cited | Taichung District Court, Criminal Judgment Yi-Zi No. 1526 of 2023 Taiwan High Court, Taichung Branch, Criminal Judgment Shang-Yi-Zi No. 691 of 2024 |
| Outcome | |
| Hsia Chao-yuan convicted of causing a public official to make false entries in official documents and sentenced to 1 year and 6 months' imprisonment. Conviction upheld on appeal. | |
Investigation
editForensic pathologist Kao Ta-cheng was commissioned by the family of the deceased to assist in investigating the cause of death.[12] On 2 June, Hsia Chao-yuan was still in possession of 30 property certificates belonging to the deceased. Lai's mother instructed her lawyer to send a certified letter demanding their return within seven days, but Hsia refused, leading her to file a complaint for occupational embezzlement.[13][14]
On 15 June, Kao stated that the case had turned into a confrontation between the victim's side and prosecutors. He questioned the credibility of Hsia Chao-yuan's account and noted that his own forensic findings conflicted with the prosecution's report.[15]
After the incident, Hsia's father stated that he had been unaware of his son's same-sex marriage registration. Through text messages, he indicated his willingness to cooperate with prosecutors and assist in clarifying the facts. The autopsy report concluded that the cause of death was consistent with death resulting from a fall from a height.[16]
Indictment and judgments
editOn 21 June 2023, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office announced the conclusion of its investigation. Owing to a lack of direct evidence of homicide, Hsia Chao-yuan and his father were not prosecutedfor murder. However, the victim's family retained the right to seek reconsideration before the Taichung Branch of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office.Prosecutors determined that the marriage registration filed by Lai and Hsia had not been intended to establish a marital relationship. They concluded that the two had jointly intended to cause a public official to make a false entry by submitting a marriage registration to an unwitting household registration officer. As a result, incorrect information was entered into the household registration information system, thereby undermining the accuracy of marriage registration administration.Prosecutors therefore brought a criminal charge under Article 214 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of China for causing a public official to make false entries in official documents before the Taichung District Court.[17][18][19]
On 28 June, mediation in the civil litigation between the two parties failed after Hsia Chao-yuan did not appear and was represented by two attorneys.[20] On 3 July, the victim's family applied for reconsideration of the decision not to prosecute for murder. On 11 July, the Taichung Branch of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office confirmed that it had received the case file and had assigned it for review.[21] On 28 July, the High Prosecutors Office ordered further investigation, and the case file was returned on 4 August.[22]After renewed investigation, prosecutors again decided not to prosecute for murder in May 2025. The family sought reconsideration, but on 20 June the Taichung Branch of the Taiwan High Prosecutors Officerejected the request, making the decision not to prosecute for murder final.[23]
On 28 June 2024, the Taichung District Court found that Hsia Chao-yuan and the deceased had jointly committed the offense of causing a public official to make false entries in quasi-official documents and sentenced Hsia to one year and six months' imprisonment, without the possibility of commutation to a fine. The case remained appealable.[24]On 23 January 2025, the appellate court rejected Hsia's appeal and upheld the first-instance judgment, making the conviction final. Hsia Chao-yuan began serving his sentence on 3 February 2025.
Civil litigation
editOn 18 June 2025, the Taichung District Court ruled in the civil action brought by Lai's mother that the marriage between the deceased and Hsia Chao-yuan had not been entered into with the intention of establishing a permanent marital and family relationship and therefore lacked the substantive intent required for marriage. Accordingly, the court declared the marriage invalid. As neither party appealed, the judgment became final.[25]
Under the current Civil Code, once the spouse's inheritance rights are excluded, the right of succession reverts to Lai's biological mother. However, because Lai's mother had previously been a person from mainland China and her household registration status in Taiwan remains disputed, she would be entitled to inherit only NT$2 million if legally classified as a mainland area resident. Any amount exceeding that limit would pass to the next order of heirs, namely Lai's siblings. The siblings have also initiated separate litigation regarding the estate, and the final distribution of the inheritance remains unresolved.[26]
References
edit- ↑ 聯合新聞網 (2023-05-23). "影／5億高中生墜樓...疑點9項變14項 律師求外界幫忙一關鍵" [Video: High schooler in $500M inheritance case falls to his death... Suspicions rise from 9 to 14 points; lawyer seeks public help with one key aspect.]. United Daily News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2023-06-18. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 中央通訊社 (2023-05-23). "5億高三生墜樓亡 家屬籲民眾提供事發影像" [Family of High School Senior Who Died After Falling from Building Urges Public to Provide Footage of the Incident]. CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ "撲朔迷離！5億高中生離奇墜樓身亡 疑生父「一句話」釀禍" [A baffling mystery! High school student inheriting 500 million NTD dies in bizarre fall; suspected trigger: a single remark by his biological father.]. TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- 1 2 朱斐青. "5億高中生案一文看懂！同婚2小時墜樓留下哪些疑點？賴夏兩家什麼關係？「掌握關鍵證據」案情進展" [The Case of the High School Student Who Inherited 500 Million NTD: A Comprehensive Overview. What questions remain regarding the fatal fall just two hours after his same-sex marriage? What is the relationship between the Lai and Xia families? Latest case developments and "key evidence."]. The Storm Media (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2023-05-26). "獨家》關鍵62分鐘！5億高中生離奇墜樓亡 兩人屋內到底說了什麼？" [Exclusive: The Crucial 62 Minutes! Bizarre Fatal Fall of High Schooler Inheriting 500 Million—What Exactly Was Said Between the Two Inside the Apartment?]. Liberty Times (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 中時新聞網 (2023-05-25). "5億高中生之母曾在知名糕餅廠工作 前雇主曝其為人" [Mother of high school student involved in the "500-million-dollar inheritance" case once worked at a renowned pastry factory; former employer reveals details about her character.]. China Times (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 吉古拉 (2023-05-20). "一圖看懂「五億高中生坎坷身世」 他是公公媳婦亂倫所生" [Infographic: The Troubled Background of the "High Schooler Who Inherited 500 Million"—Born of an Incestuous Affair Between Father-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law]. 壹蘋新聞網 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 陳亭伃. "台中5億高中生「母親遭起底」多項前科！偷香蕉養公公、兒子 黑歷史接連爆" [Mother of Taichung high schooler involved in the "500-million-dollar inheritance" case exposed: She has a criminal record including multiple offenses—such as stealing bananas to support her father-in-law and son—as details of her checkered past continue to surface.]. www.storm.mg (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 謝文哲. "台中墜樓高中生繼承土地不只5億！ 房仲粗估市值上看12億" [Land inherited by Taichung high school student who fell to his death worth more than NT$500 million; real estate agents estimate market value could reach NT$1.2 billion.]. 鏡週刊 Mirror Media (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2023-05-20). "5億高中生墜樓亡「頭沒破」 高大成揭疑點" [High school student falls to death; skull intact—forensic expert Kao Da-cheng highlights suspicious points.]. 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 隋昊志 (2023-06-01). "5億高中生墜樓前最後畫面曝光 他：遺體驗出新事證" [Final footage of high school student involved in fatal fall revealed; new evidence found during examination of remains.]. ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 三立新聞網 (2023-06-03). "5億高中生恐他殺...遺體找到新事證！背上8道開放性傷口、脖子疑有勒痕" [Suspected homicide in case of high school student who inherited 500 million yuan... New evidence found on the body! Eight open wounds on the back and suspected ligature marks on the neck.]. www.setn.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ NOWnews今日新聞 (2023-06-02). "5億高中生墜亡！夏姓地政士30筆權狀拒絕歸還 家屬提告業務侵占" [High school student inheriting 500 million yuan falls to his death; land agent surnamed Xia refuses to return 30 property title deeds—family files lawsuit for professional embezzlement.]. NOWnews今日新聞 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 自由時報電子報 (2023-06-02). "5億高中生墜樓亡同性配偶拒歸還房地產所有權狀 母怒告業務侵佔" [Mother of high school student who died in fatal fall sues agent for embezzlement after same-sex spouse refuses to return real estate title deeds.]. 自由時報電子報 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ TVBS. "避談五億命案 高大成直播忍不住吐苦水" [Avoiding talk of the "500-million-dollar death case," Kao Da-cheng can't help but vent his frustrations during a livestream.]. news.tvbs.com.tw (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 中時新聞網 (2023-06-18). "澄清5億高中生案眾多疑點 夏姓配偶父：不知兒為何同婚" [Father of spouse surnamed Xia clarifies numerous suspicions surrounding the "500-million-yuan high school student case," stating he does not know why his son entered into a same-sex marriage.]. 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 中時新聞網 (2023-06-21). "5億高中生墜樓案！夏男「這1罪起訴」 繼承遺產恐怕無望" [Case of the high school student who fell to his death (leaving a fortune of NT$500 million): Man surnamed Xia indicted on "this charge"—inheritance prospects likely dashed.]. 中時新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 聯合新聞網 (2023-06-21). "台中5億男案偵結殺人罪不起訴 登記同婚涉偽造文書遺產沒份" [Investigation concludes in Taichung "500-million-dollar man" case: No indictment for homicide; same-sex marriage registration involved document forgery; no claim to inheritance.]. 聯合新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 三立新聞網 (2023-06-21). "5億高中生命案「夏姓父子殺人罪不起訴」！高大成說話了：一定聲請再議" [No Indictment for Father and Son Named Xia in High-Profile Case of High School Student Who Died After Inheriting 500 Million Yuan; Forensic Expert Kao Da-cheng Vows to File for Reconsideration.]. www.setn.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ TVBS. "「傷天害理不敢出庭」5億命案 婚姻無效賴媽批夏男" ["Too conscience-stricken to appear in court": Mother of man in 500-million-dollar death case slams Xia over marriage invalidity.]. TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 三立新聞網 (2023-07-11). "5億高中生分案發回重審有望？律師：關鍵在這20天" [Is there hope for a retrial in the "500-million-dollar high school student" case? Lawyer: The next 20 days are crucial.]. www.setn.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ TVBS. "5億高中生案發回續查 「25公分高」卷證已送地檢" [Case of High School Student Who Inherited 500 Million Yuan Remanded for Further Investigation; Case Files Stacked "25 Centimeters High" Delivered to Prosecutors' Office]. TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 中央通訊社 (2025-06-20). "5億高中生案夏男遭控殺人 台中高分檢不起訴確定" [Man surnamed Xia cleared of murder charge in "500-million-yuan high school student" case; Taichung High Branch Prosecutors' Office confirms decision not to indict.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 中央通訊社 (2024-06-28). "5億高中生案法官認定假結婚 一審判夏男1年6月" [Judge rules "sham marriage" in case of high school student who inherited 500 million yuan; Xia sentenced to 18 months in prison in first trial.]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 聯合新聞網 (2025-06-18). "台中五億男案今判「婚姻無效」 夏男已入獄還拿不到遺產" [In the case of the Taichung man who inherited 500 million NTD, the court ruled today that the marriage was invalid; Mr. Xia, who is already imprisoned, will not receive the inheritance.]. United Daily News (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 2025-06-18. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
- ↑ 許權毅 (2025-06-18). "夏朝源與5億高中生「永久結合關係無效」關鍵曝 兩人是同婚" [Key details revealed regarding the ruling that the "permanent union" between Xia Chao-yuan and the "high school student inheriting 500 million" is invalid; the two had entered into a same-sex marriage.]. ettoday.net (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-06-22.