Taipei - A Taiwan scrap dealer bought a second-hand refrigerator and found a decomposed body in it, newspaper reports said Monday.

The tradesman, Hsu Chiu-feng from Keelung City, purchased the fridge on Sunday for 150 Taiwan dollars (five US dollars), from a group of four men, the Apple Daily said.

But when he opened the appliance, Chiu-feng discovered a decomposed body inside.

As the police arrived, the four - who include two brothers - who sold the fridge returned with another one, and were detained for questioning.

They claimed the fridge came from an empty flat they had previously been renting out until four months ago.

A coroner who examined the body said it was so badly decomposed so it is impossible to state its gender.

However, a item of women's underwear was also discovered in the fridge. Dental examinations suggested it could be a middle-aged person. (dpa)