A Taiwanese construction tycoon already convicted of a huge loan fraud gave in after three days in detention and paid up on unpaid labor insurance debts — a win for tax and debt enforcement authorities, bad news for wealthy debtors who stall.

• Lo Lu-huang, founder of a Keelung-based developer, was sentenced last month to 12 years for defrauding banks of NT$1.1 billion during a luxury Taipei housing project.
• A separate company under his name owed over NT$5 million in unpaid labor insurance, and he refused to pay, so a court ordered him detained.
• Investigators found the company had over NT$40 million on hand when the debt came due, but the money was moved out; only a single luxury hybrid car was left.
• After three days in a hot, humid detention facility, the 71-year-old raised NT$2.2 million — half the debt — and handed over the car keys in exchange for release.
• Enforcement officials say they will keep using travel bans, arrest warrants, and detention against debtors who can pay but hide assets instead.

Outlook: The remaining balance is still outstanding, and authorities signal more aggressive asset seizures against high-net-worth defaulters.