Taichung 'fake Buddha' indicted for defrauding follower of NT$516 million

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A woman who claimed to be a Buddha and "spokesperson of Buddha" to a group of followers in Taichung has been indicted for defrauding one victim of NT$516.03 million (US$15.68 million) over a 10-year period, prosecutors said Sunday.

Taipei, Nov. 15 (CNA) A woman who claimed to be a Buddha and "spokesperson of Buddha" to a group of followers in Taichung has been indicted for defrauding one victim of NT$516.03 million (US$15.68 million) over a 10-year period, prosecutors said Sunday.

In an indictment, the Taichung District Prosecutors Office said the 49-year-old woman, surnamed Hsieh (謝), began presenting herself to the public as a spiritual master, and thus attracting followers, in 2010.

Hsieh would "alter the tone of her voice" to cultivate an image that she possessed supernatural powers to grant any request after claiming to her followers that "Buddha has descended", the indictment said.

According to a United Daily News (UDN) report, Hsieh met her victim, the chairwoman of a Taichung property development company, at a social gathering in 2013.

After the woman became a follower of Hsieh's, Hsieh began pressing her for donations, saying the money would be put toward building a temple or help the woman "accumulate spiritual merit," the UDN report said.

Prosecutors said Hsieh abused her victim's religious beliefs to defraud her of NT$516 million, which she used to buy a villa in Changhua County, a Lamborghini sports car, and multiple designer bags and watches.

Hsieh also convinced the woman to purchase three real estate properties and have them registered under Hsieh's name, the indictment said.

Hsieh's influence over her victim continued until 2023, when she demanded another NT$160 million in donations to move to Singapore, warning that the woman would be "struck dead" if she refused, UDN reported.

After Hsieh continued insisting she was "owed at least NT$50 million," it dawned on the woman that she was being defrauded and filed a police report, the report said.

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