Student's legs amputated in alleged $1.3 million insurance fraud

A university student who had his legs amputated after claiming he suffered frostbite during a motorcycle ride is facing insurance fraud charges.

The 23-year-old man, identified only as Zhang, allegedly dipped his feet in a bucket of dry ice for more than 10 hours to inflict severe frostbite that led to a double amputation. He allegedly did this in the hope of obtaining insurance compensation worth $1.3 million, according to the Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau (TCIB).

Another man, a friend of Zhang identified as Liao, is believed to have persuaded him to carry out the insurance scam, with both men claiming that it was while riding a motorbike together in January last year that Zhang suffered frostbite.

Medical staff suspect injuries were fabricated

After traveling to a local hospital, medical staff determined that the man's injuries were fabricated because he had no sock or shoe marks on his feet and the injuries on both limbs were symmetrical — a detail not typically seen when a patient suffers frostbite.

During the evening when the alleged motorcycle ride took place, temperatures dropped to just five degrees, well above temperatures that would inflict such injuries on a motorcyclist, reinforcing suspicions about the student's allegations.

“Taiwan is a subtropical region and cases of severe frostbite requiring amputation due to natural climatic factors in the plains are unheard of,” the TCIB statement said.

Authorities believe the couple went to Liao's home, where Zhang allegedly soaked his feet in dry ice. Zhang was reportedly tied to a chair with cables and endured the pain for hours before being taken to a local hospital emergency room, the Taiwan News reported.

Zhang's legs were amputated below the calf and he initially received $7,200 in insurance payout, but the money will likely be seized.

Authorities reportedly found a Styrofoam box and a plastic bucket that Zhang allegedly used to perform the foot soak, as the man had taken out life, travel and accident insurance just days before the incident.

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