Regarded as a top financial crime investigation expert in the country, Chen Mei-hui, who served as a financial crime investigator at cryptocurrency exchange Xrex, recently died in a car accident on the Zhongshan Expressway. Chen Mei-hui participated in the investigation of several major cases, including the 88 Club case and creative private financial flows. Her unexpected death has sparked speculation that the cause of death is not simple and may even be related to the various financial crimes and leak cases she investigated. Chief Prosecutor Hsing Tai-chao has instructed the Hsinchu District Prosecutor's Office to establish a special investigation team for in-depth investigation and clarification of doubts.
Participating in multiple major cases, Chen Mei-hui's identity is special: the cause of her death is under suspicion.
Serving at the exchange with the title of 'Chief Investigator of Blockchain Financial Crimes,' Chen Mei-hui had assisted in solving multiple virtual currency fraud and money laundering cases. On December 4, she and her boyfriend (a member of the Criminal Investigation Bureau's scientific investigation team) encountered a car accident while returning from Taichung to the north, and Chen Mei-hui unfortunately lost her life. The two were then listed as defendants by the Taichung District Prosecutor's Office for suspected leaks and encountered the accident on their way back after questioning.
Regarding Chen Mei-hui assisting in case investigations being investigated for 'leaking information,' Lin Jian-long, director of the Technology Crime Prevention Center of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, stated: "She dedicated her life to tackling cross-border crimes, analyzing virtual currency flows, assisting fraud victims in recovering losses, and even providing unpaid training to law enforcement agencies. However, her efforts and contributions are viewed by some as 'leaks' or 'illegal actions.'"
Due to coincidental timing, various conspiracies have arisen, including malicious reports within law enforcement units and the car accident being a deliberate retaliation by illegal individuals.
(Criminal Investigation Bureau officer and cryptocurrency analysis expert's girlfriend involved in cryptocurrency investigation leak case, encountered misfortune after bail.)
Coincidental timing of the chain accident.
The accident occurred at kilometer 77.7 northbound on National Highway No. 1, when the Uber car that Chen Mei-hui was riding was stuck in traffic. The driver surnamed Hsu, who was behind, allegedly rear-ended them without noticing the situation in front, ultimately causing a six-car pile-up, resulting in one death and six injuries. Notably, 40 minutes earlier, a three-car rear-end collision caused by former Four Seas Gang leader Hao Guang-min occurred about 800 meters away on the same road, resulting in one death and three injuries. The handling time of this accident overlapped with the timing of Chen Mei-hui's car accident, exacerbating traffic congestion and possibly indirectly leading to the subsequent crash.
National Highway 2 team refutes conspiracy theories, video evidence submitted to the prosecution.
According to Liberty Times, in response to external doubts about a possible conspiracy behind the accident, the National Highway 2 team specially issued a statement clarifying that media reports regarding the loss or concealment of the dashcam footage by the police are false. They emphasized that all driving footage and surveillance video data have been handed over to the Hsinchu District Prosecutor's Office for investigation and are following the principle of non-public investigation.
The Supreme Prosecutor's Office has instructed the special investigation team to intervene and investigate the doubts surrounding Chen Mei-hui's accident.
The Hsinchu District Prosecutor's Office has established a special investigation team and will investigate the driver surnamed Hsu who caused the accident, the driver in the same vehicle, and other relevant personnel. Prosecutor spokesperson Huang Zhen-lun pointed out that regarding external doubts, including whether the driver surnamed Hsu had personal connections with Chen Mei-hui or whether there were interpersonal network entanglements, the prosecution is gradually clarifying the facts. However, based on the principle of non-public investigation, details will not be disclosed for the time being.
The Supreme Prosecutor's Office stated that Chen Mei-hui's car accident case has garnered high social attention, and all doubts must be investigated cautiously. Chief Prosecutor Hsing Tai-chao has instructed the Hsinchu District Prosecutor's Office to investigate fully and request prompt reporting of results to the High Prosecutor's Office and the Supreme Prosecutor's Office. The official promise is to handle with transparency and caution to alleviate public concerns and restore the truth of the case.
Cross-sector expressions of regret, netizens: from social movements to self-learning against fraud, what is the government doing?
Xrex co-founder Huang Yao-wen stated: "Let us remember her kindness, bravery, and justice. Miffy's abundant 'catalytic power' will always be with us. Her unfortunate passing is a significant loss to colleagues, friends, the company, and the blockchain industry. We deeply mourn her and wish her peace."
The Judicial Reform Foundation stated: "During the ten years from 2013 to early 2024, Chen Mei-hui served at the private Judicial Reform Foundation without compensation or fame, selflessly dedicating herself to public welfare affairs, caring for socially disadvantaged groups, hoping that everyone on this land of Taiwan can be treated equally and with dignity. Chen Mei-hui sacrificed a large amount of personal time to voluntarily assist fraud victims and various public welfare work. She proactively led us to understand this unsolvable problem and worked hard to propose feasible methods to give hope to victims of fraud."
The Criminal Investigation Bureau held a press conference stating that the virtual currency seizure task force has seized up to 9.3 billion New Taiwan dollars worth of virtual assets from April to the end of November this year. Chen Mei-hui was the first industry expert to cooperate with this task force, providing technical guidance, and her passing is deeply regretted.
The Reporter recalled an interview from April this year, where Chen Mei-hui emphasized that her reform efforts start from 'individual cases,' challenging existing legal frameworks and law enforcement logic through specific examples. She stated at the time: 'I use cases to challenge the system because only in this way can the blind spots of the existing system be identified.'
She stated: "Virtual currency will change many things, such as changing criminal behavior, and law enforcement actions must inevitably change; otherwise, it will be impossible to handle such crimes, right?"
Netizens recall Chen Mei-hui's journey from a social figure to joining the Judicial Reform Foundation, participating in fraud prevention actions, self-learning to write code, and studying blockchain knowledge, actively assisting law enforcement in case handling; but she still encountered many issues caused by Taiwan's system, unable to actually help victims recover funds. Netizens believe that regardless of how powerful one thinks the outside world is, self-learning cryptocurrency investigation for two years has led to so much achievement, what is the government doing?
This article reports that crime investigation expert Chen Mei-hui died in a car accident, sparking conspiracy theories, with the Supreme Prosecutor's Office instructing clarification. Netizens express regret: from social movements to self-learning against fraud, what is the government doing? Originally appeared in Chain News ABMedia.