Taipei: A man surnamed Hsu was indicted on Wednesday for allegedly trying to extort US$600,000 from a Taipei hotel after finding a cockroach in a meal. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office revealed that Hsu and a companion were dining at the hotel at approximately 6 p.m. on August 15, 2025, when the companion found a cockroach in a dish.

According to Focus Taiwan, Hsu then threatened to disclose the incident to the media, suggesting that the hotel might be compelled to cease operations. He demanded a “donation” of US$600,000 to avoid such exposure. In response, a manager surnamed Lin apologized on behalf of the hotel, waived the meal charges, and offered gifts. Additionally, the hotel agreed to Hsu’s request for a follow-up meeting the following day.

During the follow-up meeting, Hsu met with the hotel’s general manager, surnamed Kuo, and the marketing director, surnamed Chao. He instructed them to communicate his demands to the higher management. Investigations concluded that although there were issues with food hygiene, the hotel had already apologized and provided adequate compensation.

Prosecutors emphasized that Hsu had the option to pursue legal remedies if he believed his rights were violated. Instead, he chose to issue threats and demand money unrelated to any medical or emotional compensation. As a result, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Hsu on suspicion of attempted extortion.