Chen was a delivery driver who received positive feedback from clients for his silver Holden Vivo deliveries. Unbeknownst to him, one of his customers who ordered a large amount of edibles was an undercover officer who paid him with marked bills. Police suspect that hitmen with ties to China and Taiwan may have killed Chen due to a gambling debt he had incurred. The murder also involved his wife, Li, who was caught up in the violence. Chen and his wife were last seen alive in November, and detectives believe that they were killed at their home in Greenacre.
On the evening of July 17, 2020, Chen was pulled over by police for running a red light and was found to have marijuana in his possession. He was arrested along with his passenger, referred to as “YP” for safety reasons. Chen was on a bridging visa with no official source of income, and police considered him a flight risk due to the seriousness and sophistication of the drug offenses he was involved in. A raid of his apartment uncovered a significant amount of cannabis products, which were his main source of income. Chen pleaded guilty to drug charges in 2020 and 2022, receiving community corrections orders as a sentence.
Chen’s continued involvement in drug supply and his mounting gambling debt eventually led to his and Li’s tragic deaths in November. The homicide squad commander stated that the motive behind the killings appeared to be related to money owed by Chen. Li was also facing legal issues at the time of her death, as she had taken civil action against a migration agent through her business. Li failed to appear in court in December, indicating that she was likely deceased before her scheduled court date. Police seized a Toyota Avensis believed to be linked to the suspects involved in dumping the bodies of Chen and Li in bushland after killing them at their home.
The investigation into Chen and Li’s murder is ongoing, with the suspects potentially fleeing to China and Taiwan. The killings are believed to be financially motivated, stemming from Chen’s gambling debt and other monetary issues. The couple’s bodies were found dumped in the early hours of November 30, and police are working to piece together the events leading up to their deaths. Chen’s prior criminal history of drug offenses and association with illegal activities may have played a role in the violent outcome for him and his wife. The community corrections orders he received for drug charges allowed him to remain in the country, despite the potential consequences of serious prison time.
