Former Taiwanese actor Lee Wei reclassified as suspect in murder case
Former Taiwanese actor and singer Lee Wei and his wife were named as suspects in a murder investigation involving a woman linked to a Buddhist group they were associated with.
Initially questioned as a witness, the 44-year-old actor and his wife, identified only by her surname Chien, have now been reclassified as suspects following multiple rounds of questioning by prosecutors, with their residence also subjected to a search.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lee has been released on bail set at NT$300,000 (P531,166), while his wife is out on NT$150,000 bail.
In January, Lee was questioned as a witness thrice concerning the case in late July 2024 "about a woman found lying motionless in a first-floor property on a residential block on Siwei Road in downtown Taipei."
The media outlet said that the woman, surnamed Tsai, is a follower of a religious group that gathered at the meeting place. They found her with no vital signs upon arriving at the scene.
Autopsy reports discovered that Tsai died of rhabdomyolysis, a "life-threatening condition that can happen after an injury or excessive exercise without rest." It is also considered a "rare muscle injury" where an individual muscles break down.
Moreover, according to the surveillance video footage, Lee; Wu, the religious group's chief executive; a woman surnamed Chiang; and the victim were having a "study session" at a restaurant the evening when the incident happened.
Local authorities said that Lee, Wu, and Chiang were allegedly seen moving Tsai's body in a trolley from the restaurant to their usual meeting spot, leaving it there without contacting emergency services.
Focus Taiwan reported that four of the 11 suspects have been detained since January.
Lee gained prominence after starring in the 2001 Taiwanese romantic comedy television series Toast Boy's Kiss. He also played a role in various TV series, including Spicy Teacher, Sweet Lemon, and Singles Dormitory, to name a few.
As a singer, he debuted in 2000 as part of the Taiwanese pop duo Wewe.
Local Taiwanese media said he left the entertainment industry when COVID-19 hit and became a "devout follower" of Buddhism.
