TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A former Coast Guard officer has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for accepting cryptocurrency bribes and leaking state and military secrets to China.
The Kaohsiung branch of the Taiwan High Court on Tuesday said Lee began serving in 2022 as a member of the Fleet Branch’s Southern Mobile Patrol, per CNA. On Sept. 10 that year, he was recruited by a Chinese individual identified as “Tony” to join a Chinese intelligence organization.
From that point until July 2024, Lee used his mobile phone to photograph state and military secrets, classified documents, and other confidential electronic records related to Taiwan’s national defense. He transmitted the materials to Tony via messaging apps in exchange for bribes.
Judges said Lee received a total of 18,522 Tether (USDT), equivalent to about NT$576,127.
They found he sold state and official secrets for nearly one year and 10 months due to his family’s financial needs, endangering national security and undermining public morale. Lee was convicted of accepting bribes in violation of his duties, delivering confidential official documents, electronic records, and state secrets to China with the intent to endanger national security.
Taking into account Lee’s confession, voluntary surrender of all illicit gains, and the nature and impact of the secrets he leaked, the court sentenced him to seven years and eight months in prison. The case is subject to appeal.
The Ocean Affairs Council, which oversees the Coast Guard, told CNA that Lee was suspended from his duties after the incident and has since left the job.
