Kaohsiung:A man in Kaohsiung has been indicted on fraud charges after allegedly placing a cockroach leg in his ice cream at a hot pot restaurant and feigning illness to evade his bill.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office announced in a news release that the man, identified by his surname Wu (伍), was officially indicted on November 6. The incident took place on June 17 at a prominent hot pot restaurant in Kaohsiung's Lingya District, where Wu reportedly arrived at 747 p.m.

Wu allegedly inserted a cockroach leg, which he had brought with him, into his dessert and drew attention to it from other customers and the restaurant staff. Claiming to feel unwell, Wu requested to be taken to a hospital and sought compensation from the restaurant manager, Shao (邵).

Manager Shao agreed to waive Wu's bill of NT$4,052 (US$123) and accompanied him to the hospital, covering NT$551 for his medical expenses. However, upon reviewing the restaurant's surveillance footage, Shao discovered Wu had placed the cockroach leg in the ice cream himself.

After unsuccessful attempts to recover the meal and medical costs from Wu, Shao reported the matter to the police in Lingya District. The prosecutors concluded that Wu had used deception to gain payment for his medical expenses and avoid paying his restaurant bill, leading to his indictment on fraud charges.