TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Supreme Court has overturned the acquittal of a Chinese spouse accused of forming pro-China organizations in Taiwan, reports said Thursday.

The Kaohsiung Branch of the Taiwan High Court had found Zhou Man-chih (周滿芝) not guilty of accepting instructions and funds from China to set up groups promoting pro-China causes, per CNA. The Supreme Court ruled the verdict was based on an incomplete investigation and flawed reasoning.

Zhou, chair of the Taiwan New Immigrants’ Association, also launched the Shaanxi Province Patriotic Volunteers Association and the China Patriotic Volunteers Association. The High Court said there was no evidence the groups were controlled by Beijing or had official links to the Chinese government.

However, the Supreme Court faulted the High Court for ignoring evidence from the National Security Bureau showing Chinese Communist Party and military officials participated in Zhou’s organizations. The lower court had argued Zhou’s activities reflected personal values and freedoms that should not be restricted.

Zhou married a Taiwanese national and arrived in Taiwan in 2003. Starting in 2015, she formed several groups promoting Chinese patriotism and new immigrant causes. After launching one association in 2017, she traveled to China’s Hunan Province, where she allegedly sought financial support from united front officials. On another visit the following year, she reportedly signed a declaration in favor of patriotism and unification, investigators said.