News
Man Soaks His Legs in Dry Ice for 10 Hours As Bait for Insurance
A couple of Taiwanese university students are being accused of faking frostbite injuries that eventually warranted a double amputation to defraud insurance companies.
Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau has accused a university student surnamed Chang of conspiring with a former high-school colleague named Liao to orchestrate a bizarre insurance fraud in January of last year. Evidence presented to prosecutors shows that in early January of last year, Chang took out policies covering disabilities, injuries, health, and travel safety from at least five insurers. On the night of January 26, both Chang and Liao rode their motorcycles through Taipei, to make it seem like one of them suffered frostbite because of the cold weather. In reality, the frostbite was self-inflicted and caused by a bucket of dry ice.
Chang and Liao hoped to pocket around 41 million TWD ($1.29 million) from the insurance policies they had taken out, but in order to do that, one of them had to make a very tough choice. After discussing the best course of action, Chang agreed to give up both his legs for a slightly bigger piece of the pie (25 million TWD). He had to soak his feet in a bucket of dry ice for more than 10 hours and agreed to be tied to a chair by Liao, to ensure that he put up with the grueling pain.
On January 28, after 10 hours of soaking his legs in dry ice, Chang had to be hospitalized and because doctors could no longer save his lower limbs, he suffered a double below-the-knee amputation. He filed insurance claims almost immediately after being discharged and he actually got paid 230,000 TWD ($7240) by one insurer, but the rest decided to investigate the case.
The unusual number of insurance policies taken out in such a short period of time and the circumstances of Chang’s frostbite injuries were considered suspicious by insurance companies, some of which reported the case to the local authorities. During the investigation that followed, prosecutors found that Chang had unusually symmetrical injuries that lacked an imprint from his shoes or socks.
While checking the weather on January 26, the night that the frostbite injuries allegedly occurred, temperatures ranged from 6 degrees Celsius to 17 degrees Celsius, for from cold enough to cause frostbite. While checking the two young men’s homes, authorities found insurance documents, medical records, as well as a styrofoam box in which dry ice had been stored.
Prosecutors claim that Liao was facing serious financial problems due to losing his money on the cryptocurrency market and managed to convince Chang to go along with his plan and get a huge payout. On March 14 both men were charged with fraud, but Liao was also charged for causing his friend’s serious physical injuries.
This case once again proves that some people will do anything for money. Just a few weeks ago, we posted about a paraplegic man who paid someone to cuto off his legs and make it look like an accident for insurance fraud purposes, but there was also the case of a Slovakian woman who allegedly cut off her own hand for an insurance payout, as well as the Vietnamese woman who paid someone to cut off her hand and foot to claim an insurance payout.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, secured the conviction and sentence of the duo of Babatunde Peter Olaitan and Tobilola Olamide to six months imprisonment each for mutilation of the Naira notes.
They were jailed by Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The convicts were arraigned on a separate one-count charge of tampering with the Naira notes and spraying, to which they each pleaded “guilty”.
The charge against Olaitan reads: “That you, BABATUNDE PETER OLAITAN, on 8th April 2025, at 23, Macdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N200 (Two Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying it, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”
The charge against Olamide reads:”That you, TOBILOLA OLAMIDE A.K.A TobiNation, on 8th April 2025, at 23 Macdonald Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N200 (Two Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying it, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie and H.U.KofarNaisa, respectively, reviewed the facts of the cases through Ibrahim Bukar, an investigative officer with the EFCC.
In his evidence, Bukar specifically told the court that the Commission, on April 10, 2025, generated an intelligence-driven investigation on TikTok, where Olaitan, also known as TDollar, was seen spraying Naira notes.
He also told the court that “Upon the approval of the intelligence by the Zonal Director, a letter of investigation was sent to the defendant, requesting him to make a statement regarding the video.
“The defendant reported to the Special Operations Team, SOT, on May 5, 2025 and his statement was recorded under caution.
“He stated that he went to a night club on April 8, 2025 and met some of his fans sharing money.
“ He also said that a fan, in the process, gifted him a bundle of N200 notes, which he sprayed on some of his other fans.
“He was shown a video of him spraying the money and he made a statement regarding it.”
Consequently, the defendants’ extrajudicial statements and video recordings were rendered and admitted in evidence by the court.
Okozie and KofarNaisa, therefore, respectively prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.
Justice Owoeye convicted and sentenced both Olaitan and Olamide to six months imprisonment each, with an option of fine in the sum of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira.
The convicts’ road to the Correctional Centre started when they were arrested by operatives of the EFCC for Naira abuse. They were charged to court and convicted.
The Supreme Court has ordered the immediate remand of Lagos-based businessman and socialite, Fred Ajudua, in connection with a $1.43 million fraud case dating back over three decades.
In a unanimous ruling delivered on Friday, the apex court overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier granted Ajudua bail.
The court held that the appellate court erred in its judgment and directed that Ajudua be returned to correctional custody without delay.
It was learned that Ajudua is now in hiding following the court’s decision.
“Ajudua escaped after the Supreme Court ordered that he should be returned to prison,”, a source disclosed and its currently unclear if he is still in Nigeria.
The case, which has spanned more than 30 years, stems from allegations that Ajudua defrauded a German company of $1.43 million through an advance fee fraud scheme—commonly referred to as a “419” scam in Nigeria.
A letter dated August 26, 1993, from the Embassy of the State of Palestine accused Ajudua of obtaining the funds under false pretence from one Ziad Abu Zalaf, a Palestinian businessman based in Germany. The funds were allegedly siphoned under the pretext of business transactions with Nigerian government agencies.
It was gathered that Ajudua and his accomplice, Mr. Joseph Ochunor, fraudulently collected sums of $268,000 and $225,000 from Zalaf on April 2 and May 12, 1993, respectively. They forged official documents, including receipts from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, to make the transactions appear legitimate.
Following an extensive investigation, a 12-count charge was filed against Ajudua before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. Initially arraigned before Justice Josephine Oyefeso, the case was later reassigned to Justice Mojisola Dada following a refiling of charges.
Ajudua’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), later approached the Court of Appeal, where a panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba granted bail on the grounds of constitutional rights and allowed the businessman to continue under his existing bail terms.
However, In its decision on appeal number SC/CR/51/2019, the Supreme Court, through Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme, ruled that the Court of Appeal acted outside its jurisdiction by granting bail after striking out Ajudua’s brief of argument for incompetence. The apex court held that any judgment or relief stemming from such a defective brief was legally void.
The Supreme Court further ordered that trial resume before Justice Dada of the Lagos State High Court without further delay.
The National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has shut down operations at MDV Sacks Ltd, a subsidiary of the Bhojsons Group, over alleged exploitation, inhumane treatment, and racial discrimination against over 300 Nigerian workers.
The company, located within the Lafarge Cement premises in Ewekoro, Ogun State, is accused of compelling its factory workers to pay N18,000 for protective boots while refusing to provide basic employment rights, including allowances, annual leave, and formal employment letters.
The union also alleged that MDV Sacks Ltd actively suppresses workers’ rights to unionize, a clear violation of Nigeria’s labour laws.
On Monday, members of the Textile Union, backed by other NLC-affiliated unions, stormed the factory in a protest that disrupted activities at the facility. The demonstrators, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with messages like “Injury to one is injury to all” and “MDV Lafarge management, stop harassment and intimidation of workers”, called on all employees to vacate the premises until their grievances are addressed.
While the majority of workers complied and walked out in support of the union, a handful reportedly remained on duty.
Deputy General Secretary of NUTGTWN, Comrade Emeka Nkwoala, who addressed journalists during the protest, expressed deep concern over the company’s failure to honour commitments reached during a mediation meeting held on May 7, 2025.
“At the meeting, it was agreed that union activities would be allowed to commence without obstruction and that workers would be given formal employment letters,” Nkwoala said.
“Unfortunately, the management of MDV Sacks Ltd has gone back on its word. Some of our members have been unjustly laid off, while others are subjected to degrading and exploitative working conditions. There are clear rules of engagement under Nigerian law, and we will not allow modern-day slavery to persist under any guise.”
Nkwoala further accused the company of fostering a culture of racial discrimination, alleging that Nigerian workers are treated unfairly in comparison to their expatriate counterparts.
He described the demonstration as peaceful and orderly, adding that the Ogun State Ministry of Labour has now stepped in to mediate. According to him, the Ministry has directed that the status quo be maintained, with sacked workers recalled and all outstanding entitlements paid.
The union has vowed to continue its advocacy until the affected workers receive justice and the company is held accountable for its actions.
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