TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Taiwan High Court on Thursday (Aug. 22) sentenced eight suspects, including officers from the Aviation and Special Forces Command, to prison terms of up to 13 years for spying on China’s behalf.

The conspirators planned to fly a CH-47 Chinook military helicopter to China, while they also shot a movie indicating they would surrender to Beijing in the event of war, per CNA. Appeals are still possible against the verdicts.

One suspect was found not guilty. Another, a retired officer named Chen (陳), is believed to be living in China.

Under a method used by others before, Chen contacted a serving officer surnamed Hsiao (蕭), telling him to recruit colleagues to form a spy ring. In 2021, one retired officer and two active colleagues joined the group.

While the four passed on confidential information to China earning payments ranging from NT$600,000 (US$18,770) to NT$700,000, they recruited three more members, including Lieutenant Colonel Hsieh Meng-shu (謝孟書). He was the officer tasked with piloting a military helicopter to flee to China.

Hsieh received a nine-year prison sentence, Hsiao 13 years, and six other suspects got prison terms ranging from 18 months to eight years.