They say the loss of a loved one can cause someone to hit a breaking point. After Taiwanese songwriter and lyricist Eason Lee KunCheng (李坤城) died from cancer, his 28-year-old widow, Lin JingEn (林靖恩), started exhibiting erratic behaviour and was recently caught committing theft.
According to Taiwanese media, the young widow got caught stealing a takeaway meal in Taichung City, Taiwan. A man had discovered that the takeaway meal he ordered was stolen by a woman and then eaten in front of the neighbouring building. He also said that the woman seemed unremorseful of her actions, even smiling when he took a photo of her. The man then reported the matter to the police, who arrived to discover that the thief was Lin JingEn.
When questioned, JingEn agreed to compensate the man for his meal and repay the NT$237 (approximately RM34) meal cost. While the victim didn’t intend to press charges against JingEn, the police still took her to the Taichung District Prosecutor’s Office for further investigations. When asked why she stole the takeaway meal, JingEn said she felt hungry and thus ate the food when she saw it. It’s unknown whether JingEn will receive punishment for committing theft.
This isn’t the first reported case of erratic behaviour from JingEn after the passing of her husband. Previously, she damaged public property and was banned from entering a hotel. While it’s unsure what caused her to behave in such a manner, it’s argued that JingEn’s actions were due to the heartbreak of losing her long-time partner and the subsequent criticism she received from the public.
KunCheng and JingEn’s relationship began ten years before his death when the two were 58 years old and 18 years old. The former was a renowned lyricist in the Taiwanese music industry but received scrutiny for his relationship with a significantly younger woman. The pair’s 40-year age gap even earned them the nickname “grandpa-grandchild couple”. Despite the hate, the two remained together for a decade until the lyricist died in 2023.
Perhaps losing her husband was a lot more painful than it seemed. While we’re unsure what is causing such behaviour from JingEn, we hope for the best for the young and hope she gets the help she needs.
Watch a video of JingEn taken by the victim:
Sources: China Press, Seehua
