KUALA LUMPUR: Taiwanese singer Yu Tian and his wife, singer Li Ya-Ping are seeking guardianship of their two grandchildren after the detention of their son-in-law Gary Chen, Asia News Network reported yesterday.
Chen is the husband of Yu Yuan-Chi, the second daughter of Yu, 76, and Li, 74.
Yuan-Chi, who died of cancer at 39 in 2022, had a daughter, six, and a son, four, with Chen.
Chen, 37, is in detention following his arrest in April for suspected involvement in a scam syndicate.
He was handed charges by the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office on June 24, on fraud and money laundering.
Yu Tian, who rose to prominence with the song Under The Banyan Tree (1977), appeared at Shilin District Court in Taipei with his wife on June 24.
They told the Taiwanese media after a mediation session at the court that they had just spoken with Chen via video conference.
"We hope to raise the two children at our home and Gary is still giving it some consideration," Yu Tian said.
Li, who is known for her song Wake Up, Lei Meng Na (1972), said she and Yu Tian were trying to help Chen as it was expensive to raise the children.
"Maybe he was confused and resorted to other means," Li said.
Earlier, Li told the media that their two grandchildren had come to their house briefly after Chen's arrest before returning home the next day.
She said the children were being taken care of by a domestic helper employed by Yuan-Chi before her death.