The No. 3 division of the criminal investigation team of the Keelung police department recently received a report from an old woman saying that some NT$500,000 in cash and NT$200,000 worth of gold decorations were missing from the drawer of a wardrobe in her home. The woman asked the police to help investigate the case.

The old woman told the police that the drawer was not locked and her comatose husband, named Chen Hsin-chou, had been rushed to hospital for emergency rescue several times. Following investigation into the case, the police found that Chen's Vietnamese caretaker, identified as Cheng Hsi-jung, was suspected of stealing the money and the jewelry.

In order to collect concrete evidence against Cheng Hsi-jung, the police installed a surveillance monitor at Chen's house. Through the device, the police found that besides stealing, Cheng Hsi-jung also poured water into the mouth of Chen Hsin-chou and inserted scraps of cotton cloth into his mouth.

When questioned by the police, Cheng Hsi-jung defended herself by saying that Ms. Chen forgot the place where she put her money and was trying to sow discord between Ms. Chen and her daughter-in-law.

But after the police unveiled all the unfavorable evidence against her, Cheng Hsi-jung confessed to her crimes. She told the police that she spent NT$10,000 to commission another Vietnamese caretaker, named Juan Hsi-tsui, to remit NT$320,000 back to her parents in Vietnam, and the remaining money was kept by another Vietnamese caretaker, identified as Wu Hsi-ho.

Yesterday, Cheng Hsi-jung knelt down in front of Ms. Chen at a Keelung police station asking for a pardon from her employer, but in vain.

The police finally sent the Vietnamese caretaker to prosecution on charges of attempted murder and theft.