TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Supreme Court has finalized the convictions of four former Keelung police officers who were found guilty of obtaining investigative results and illicit benefits through drug-related corruption.

According to the ruling, in 2020, former officer Chang Chin-wen (張晉維) learned that fugitive Yu Meng-hsiu (余孟修) had connections to drug suppliers. Under pressure to deliver investigative results, Chang colluded with Yu.

Yu provided drug-related cases for Chang to investigate, while Chang embezzled and swapped some of the seized drugs, sharing the proceeds with Yu. Chang subsequently invited fellow officers Chou Sheng-lun (周聖倫), Huang Min-hsin (黃民欣), and Su Yu-tuan (蘇昱端) to participate in the scheme, according to CNA.

In the initial trial at Keelung District Court, Chang was sentenced to five years and six months in prison, Huang received three years, and Chou was sentenced to two years and six months for embezzling non-public property in the course of their duties, violating the Anti-Corruption Act. Su was acquitted due to insufficient evidence of receiving illicit payments.

The case was later appealed to the Taiwan High Court.

The High Court overturned the lighter sentences, rejecting the defense argument that the misconduct was driven by a “distorted police performance evaluation system.” It ruled that the officers committed crimes to advance their careers and falsified performance results.

Consequently, the court increased the sentences: Chang to six years and eight months, Huang to four years, Chou to three years and six months, and Su to two years and six months.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s ruling, finding no legal errors. It dismissed the final appeals, bringing the case to a close.