ted to take action in a case involving three debtors held captive by their creditors for several months. The three debtors -- Cho Fang-cheng, his wife and a man surnamed Ou -- were rescued by Kaohsiung City police Friday from a residence not far from their creditors' home.
The Chos were locked up for nine months for owing NT$1.8 million, and Ou was confined for seven months for owing NT$1 million.
The men were kept under lock and key in one ping of space with their feet shackled.
Local newspapers reported that the residence of the suspects, owned by a couple surnamed Chang and located in front of the southern county's Fengshan train station, was a rest stop for police.
Initial investigation indicated that the Changs knew some active as well as retired police officers, who would ocassionally stop by their home, but were unaware of anyone being held captive nearby.
Police said that Cho's younger brother had reported an incident to local authorities last Oct. 25, after the metal door of Cho's family home in Chishan Township was inscribed in paint with references to his debt and demanding repayment.
After the township police recorded the case, they referred it to a higher-level police station.
Cho's older sister on Feb. 13 again went to police to report that his brother had been missing since May 25 of last year. Police then announced a national search for the missing person.
Because Cho's family did not inform police of the possibility that the couple was kidnapped, police said they were unable to follow up with the case.
According to police, the male suspect was a cab driver at the train station. His co-workers described him as a "very good person" who would donate money to the poor.
The kidnapped victims were rescued after police were notified by Cho's family of the kidnapped victims' whereabouts using a text message that Cho's wife sent to them using a cellphone which she was allowed to keep to phone for money.
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