HK tourist allegedly raped in broad daylight at Taipei train station by man posing as homeless person

A Hong Kong female tourist was allegedly raped in broad daylight on Oct. 9 at Taipei Main Station, prompting public outrage and calls for enhanced safety measures, reported The South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The 44-year-old suspect, surnamed Chiu, was arrested at the scene and is currently in custody.

What happened

The assault occurred in the station’s main concourse, against a wall in the main ticketing hall where there was a lot of human traffic.

It lasted approximately 10 minutes.

The suspect had allegedly concealed himself in the station concourse, posing as a homeless person before attacking the woman.

It was reported that passers-by witnessed the attack.

A Malaysian university student who was recording the incident alerted the authorities.

The police eventually detained Chiu after reviewing the CCTV footage, according to The Standard.

Suspect’s background

The victim had been drinking heavily and was intoxicated at the time, SCMP stated.

She had been having drinks with the suspect and several friends at the station’s east side lobby for several hours before the incident occurred.

She and Chiu reportedly knew each other, having met four days prior.

The police said that the attack was not random.

The victim has since left Taiwan, reported the China News Service (CNS).

Chiu is a convicted fugitive with multiple prior offences, including theft of a truck and an electric scooter in 2024.

He had failed to serve a six-month sentence and was reportedly living near Taipei Main Station disguised as a homeless person, police have confirmed.

Following the arrest, Chiu was transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office on charges including sexual assault and public indecency, according to the Taipei Times.

As of now, he remains in detention.

Advocacy and increased security

The Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation and Judicial Reform Foundation issued a joint statement calling for enhanced monitoring and emergency response systems, such as clearly marked alarm buttons and public instructions on how to report incidents, reported Focus Taiwan.

They also urged the public and media to avoid sharing sensitive footage to prevent further harm to the victim and not to engage in victim-blaming.

Authorities are also actively working to remove videos of the assault circulating online.

The National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General confirmed that the videos were likely recorded by bystanders and stressed that their dissemination would not benefit either the woman or the public, said the Taipei Times.

The Director-General stressed that NPA is exploring ways to remove or block online videos of the incident while the investigations are ongoing.

The Taiwan Railway Corp and the Railway Police Bureau are conducting internal reviews as well to prevent similar incidents.

While there is an ongoing problem of homeless people congregating at the station, The Taipei Department of Social Welfare have stepped in to remind people that the suspect is not homeless, despite early speculation and media reports, and urged the public not to stigmatise individuals experiencing homelessness.

Police have increased patrols and guard points throughout Taipei Main Station, while city authorities continue to review security protocols and monitoring measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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