Hsinchu: The Hsinchu District Court on Friday ordered the detention of nine individuals, including four minors, following the death of a 17-year-old boy who was beaten in Hsinchu.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Hsinchu County Police Bureau reported that the incident originated from a car repair debt of NT$25,000 (US$818) allegedly owed by the deceased, surnamed Tseng, to a man named Hsieh. Hsieh and eight others are accused of abducting Tseng from Zhudong Township on August 17 and transporting him to Jianshih Township, where they allegedly beat him to death.

The Hsinchu District Prosecutors Office moved on Thursday to detain the five adult suspects, including Hsieh, citing concerns of potential collusion or destruction of evidence. Meanwhile, four minors involved were referred to the court’s juvenile division under the Juvenile Justice Act and subsequently sent to detention centers.

Prosecutors revealed that Tseng’s body was discovered on Thursday in a mountainous region of Yilan County’s Toucheng Township. Hsieh and the other accused parties were arrested and questioned on charges including kidnapping for ransom resulting in death.