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A 73-year-old woman involved in a viral altercation over a priority seat on the Taipei Metro earlier this week has been arrested today, 1 October, on an outstanding theft warrant
In a video recording of the incident on Monday, 29 September, the elderly woman, surnamed Tseng (曾), can be seen confronting a passenger occupying a priority seat on the Taipei Metro Red Line and demanding they give it up.
When the passenger refused, Tseng struck them repeatedly with her tote bag. The passenger eventually stood up and kicked Tseng, causing her to topple into the empty seats behind.
Another commuter tried to intervene, but Tseng made a transphobic remark towards the passenger and insisted she wanted the priority seat because she was carrying many bags.
However, the passenger retorted that they had sat first and, if Tseng had so many bags, she should have driven a car instead.
The clip sparked heated debate online
While some criticised the passenger for kicking an elderly woman, most commenters said Tseng was in the wrong for the targeted harassment, noting that there were many empty seats available.
Today, photos surfaced showing Tseng being arrested for allegedly causing a commotion at a convenience store in Datong District
According to Focus Taiwan, the Taipei Police Department later confirmed Tseng was arrested on an outstanding warrant for larceny, issued by the Shilin District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday, 2 October.
It was reported that after Monday's incident went viral, the police recognised Tseng, who had failed to report to prison after she was sentenced in June to 55 days for theft. It was revealed that Tseng had also served time for several shoplifting offences in 2023.
After her arrest at 9am this morning, Taipei Police said Tseng would be taken in for questioning and handed over to the Shilin District Prosecutors Office.
The police added that it also plans to summon both Tseng and the passenger in the viral video for questioning under the Social Order Maintenance Act.
