In August 2003, Eddie Liu, a longtime legal assistant at top Taipei law firm Lee and Li, asked for a year’s leave of absence to study for the bar exam, which he had previously failed. His request was granted, and firm managing partner C. V. Chen recalls personally wishing the 41-year-old Liu the best of luck on his studies and the exam.

“Eddie Liu had been with the firm for 13 years,” says Chen. “He was a senior assistant and had never acted out. Till today, it still puzzles us why he did it.”