Taiwan Woman Jailed for Using Deceased Man’s Fingerprints to Forge Loan Agreement

A 59-year-old woman in Taiwan has received a two-year prison sentence for a peculiar crime: using the fingerprints of a deceased individual to forge a promissory note valued at NT$8.5 million (approximately US$280,000). The unusual incident unfolded at a funeral home in Hsinchu, located in northwestern Taiwan. The woman, identified by her surname Li, approached the deceased man’s body under the guise of paying her respects, but her intentions were far from solemn.

(Also read: Chinese woman calls off wedding, shocks ex-fiance by demanding $4,200 ‘hugging fee’)

According to a report by SETN, as cited by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Li had a history of debt disputes with the deceased man, identified as Peng. Upon learning of Peng’s death on February 21st, she reportedly rushed to the funeral home within hours, carrying a fraudulent mortgage document and a promissory note.

Caught Red-Handed

Li informed the funeral home staff that she was a close friend of Peng and wished to pay her final respects. However, her behavior quickly aroused suspicion. As Peng’s body was being placed in a hearse, Li allegedly climbed into the vehicle, unzipped the body bag, and pressed the deceased man’s finger onto a piece of paper. A funeral home worker promptly alerted Peng’s family, who then contacted the police. Authorities arrived at the scene, arrested Li, and confiscated the forged mortgage document, a bank cheque, and an ink pad.

Police Findings and Confession

The SCMP report indicates that Li later admitted to forging the documents, stating she feared she would never recover the money she had lent to Peng. She had created a fake land mortgage document dated May 23, 2010, and a promissory note in Peng’s name, implying he owed her NT$8.5 million.

Court Ruling and Sentence

The court found Li guilty of forging securities and imposed a two-year prison sentence. However, her sentence was suspended for five years due to her admission of guilt and the fact that the fraudulent bank cheque had not yet been cashed. Additionally, the judge ordered Li to pay NT$50,000 (approximately US$1,600) to the government and complete 90 hours of community service.

A funeral home employee, speaking to SCMP, expressed their astonishment at the event: “I have been working in the funeral industry for two decades. I have never encountered such an incident before.”