Rex Chen, a Taiwanese national on a bridging visa in Australia, was caught in a web of illicit activities that ultimately led to his and his wife Sally Li’s tragic demise. Chen’s initial entanglement with the law stemmed from his involvement in a small-scale drug operation. He utilized an online platform to advertise and arrange the delivery of cannabis edibles, operating from his Pyrmont apartment. His clientele, unaware of the undercover operation, provided positive feedback on his deliveries, which he carried out in a silver Holden Vivo. However, one seemingly satisfied customer was an undercover police officer who used marked bills to purchase the illegal goods. This transaction, along with subsequent traffic stops where cannabis was found in his vehicle, led to his arrest and multiple convictions for possession and supply of cannabis. Despite the seriousness of the offenses, Chen received relatively lenient sentences, avoiding jail time and subsequent deportation.
Chen’s avoidance of imprisonment proved to be a double-edged sword. While he remained in Australia with his new wife, Sally Li, he accrued a significant gambling debt. This debt, according to police investigations, became the motive for the couple’s brutal murder. Authorities believe that hitmen, potentially linked to organized crime in China and Taiwan, were hired to eliminate Chen due to his outstanding debt. Tragically, Li became an unintended victim of this targeted killing, caught in the crossfire of her husband’s perilous financial situation.
The timeline of the tragic events unfolds with Chen’s last sighting in November 2022. Police suspect that the couple were murdered in their Greenacre home shortly thereafter. Their bodies were then transported and dumped in bushland off Foreshore Road in Botany in the early hours of November 30th. A silver Toyota Avensis, unconnected to either victim, was spotted at the scene and subsequently seized by police as a key piece of evidence, believed to have been used by the perpetrators.
The investigation into the double homicide points towards a financially motivated crime, with the gambling debt as the primary driver. Homicide Squad Commander Danny Doherty confirmed the financial aspect, stating that substantial sums of money were owed and that no other criminal activity linked to the couple was apparent. This points to a targeted killing focused on Chen, with Li becoming a collateral victim due to her association with him. The possible involvement of organized crime groups from China and Taiwan further complicates the case and highlights the potential dangers Chen’s gambling debt entangled him in.
Adding another layer of complexity to the tragedy, Li was herself involved in legal proceedings at the time of her death. She had initiated civil action in Bankstown Local Court against a migration agent on behalf of her NDIS provider business, Harmony In Home Care. This case, however, was discontinued when Li failed to appear in court on December 3rd – a date by which police believe she was already deceased. This legal entanglement, though seemingly unrelated to the murder, adds a poignant detail to Li’s final days and underscores the abrupt and tragic end to her life.
The story of Rex Chen and Sally Li serves as a grim illustration of the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate events. Chen’s minor drug offences, though dealt with leniently, ultimately prevented his deportation and kept him in Australia where he accrued the fateful gambling debt. This debt, in turn, attracted the attention of dangerous individuals, leading to the tragic demise of both Chen and his wife. The case also highlights the tragic consequences of organized crime and the devastating impact it can have on innocent lives. While justice is sought for the murdered couple, their story serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and often brutal nature of the criminal underworld.
