TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Supreme Court has rejected the final appeal against a 20-year prison sentence for a retired Air Force colonel found guilty of forming a spy ring on China’s behalf, reports said Friday (June 14).
Liu Sheng-shu (劉聖恕) recruited serving and retired military officers to collect confidential information to pass on to China, the Kaohsiung branch of the Taiwan High Court ruled last October. An appeal against the High Court’s verdict of 20 years in prison was turned down by the Supreme Court Thursday (June 13), per CNA.
After retiring from the military in 2013, Liu went to China to run a business but was recruited by Beijing’s security services. Using his connections, he invited serving and retired Air Force and Navy officers to spy for China.
Liu made NT$16.7 million (US$516,000) from his work through a shell company he formed to cover up payments. He received payments ranging from NT$200,000 to NT$700,000, with bonuses from NT$30,000 to NT$100,000 added if he supplied sensitive information.
The High Court found Liu and five other defendants guilty of breaking the Classified National Security Information Act. The others received prison sentences ranging from six months to 20 years and six months.
However, the Supreme Court rejected parts of the sentences. The High Court will have to reconsider the verdicts confiscating the income from Liu, a retired officer surnamed Sun (孫), and the prison sentences for Sun and his wife, an active-duty officer named Liu (劉).