'Evil Landlady' receives even heavier sentence after appealing lower court's ruling

 Taiwan News
Date: 2020/12/23
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chang Shu-ching (張淑晶), who has been dubbed "Evil Landlady" by local media outlets for swindling numerous tenants over the years, has been sentenced by a high court to nine years and eight months in prison on Wednesday (Dec. 23) — an even heavier penalty than the previous one.

Chang, who was notorious for using leases to trap and blackmail tenants, was accused of repeatedly falsely accusing tenants or joint guarantors of fraud or embezzlement in 2014. After being exposed and sued by 78 victims, she was sentenced by a lower court to eight years in prison for 18 counts of false accusations, three counts of fraud, and one count of extortion.

She pleaded not guilty and appealed the case in a high court. However, on Wednesday morning, the court handed her the even heavier sentence of nine years and eight months, of which one year and two months can be commuted to fines, while the rest can be appealed, reported CNA.

Chang (51), was prosecuted in 2014 for renting five houses for low prices in New Taipei City's Zhonghe and Banqiao districts, using inferior materials to break the apartment into suites, and leasing them out for around NT$9,500 each.    [FULL  STORY]