A student persuaded by his friend to get his legs amputated for $1.3 million insurance payout

A university student in Taiwan who had his legs amputated in expectations of collecting a $1.3 million insurance payment has been arrested on suspicion of fraud, local investigators said.

The 23-year-old, known only by his surname name Zhang, had emergency surgery in early February previous year and lost both legs below the knee due to a combination of fourth-degree frostbite, bone necrosis and sepsis, Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau announced in a Thursday statement.

The office said a friend of Zhang’s from high school, recognized only as Liao, convinced him to conduct the insurance fraud.