Taiwan's '21-faced monster' may be behind tainted drink
By Ted Chen,The China Post
September 11, 2013, 12:35 am TWN
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A 71-year old man was hospitalized in Taoyuan yesterday after ingesting an energy drink tainted with strong acidic substances, while reports have emerged suggesting the incident could be linked to a larger extortion plot.
According to reports, the company which makes the energy drink had been demanded to pay NT$2 billion to an unidentified suspect or face further attempts at poisoning its products.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau stated that it is aware of the matter and has dispatched the Fourth Investigation Brigade (偵四隊) to assist Taoyuan-based police precincts with ongoing investigations.
In an effort to identify suspects, the police are currently poring over surveillance footage along the major route surrounding the mom-and-pop store where the elderly man purchased the tainted energy drink and researching forensic materials uncovered on the bottle, including a suspicious slash mark that had been drawn in permanent marker on the bottom of the container.
The victim is reportedly in stable condition, according to the hospital's account.
The case harks back to the Gloco Morinaga extortion case of similar circumstance, which shocked Japanese society in the 1980s.
In the case, two major food and beverage companies were extorted by a group or person known only as “The Monster with 21 Faces,” who still remains at large despite that the statutes of limitations have expired.
