TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Three subcontractors at TSMC’s Chiayi advanced packaging plant have been indicted for allegedly stealing more than 4.5 kilometers of cable and selling it for nearly NT$5 million (US$158,000), prosecutors said Tuesday.
The Chiayi District Prosecutors Office said the suspects repeatedly posed as TSMC workers to gain access to the AP7 construction site before cutting and removing cables intended for resale, per Liberty Times.
The main suspect, a 29-year-old subcontractor surnamed Chuang (莊), ran an engineering firm and worked at the site with two employees, surnamed Hsueh (薛), 34, and Hung (洪), 24. Prosecutors said they coordinated multiple thefts between December and March.
On March 2, Hsueh allegedly drove a rented truck to the site entrance and told security he was transporting tools for TSMC, per UDN. Having previously entered the site, he was not stopped, allowing Chuang and Hung to hide in the vehicle and enter.
Once inside, the group used hydraulic cutters to remove about 600 meters of cable before being spotted by security patrols, prosecutors said.
During their escape, Chuang allegedly attempted to ram security guards with the vehicle and crashed through a gate barrier before fleeing the scene. No serious injuries were reported.
Police later traced the stolen materials to recycling yards in Pingtung and Chiayi, including Zhongpu, and found records of 29 transactions since October last year, totaling nearly NT$4.98 million in sales. The suspects also admitted to seven additional theft incidents involving two other employees.
Prosecutors indicted Chuang, Hsueh, and Hung on robbery charges, citing repeated offenses, coordinated activity, and threats to public safety. They are seeking prison terms of up to 10 years for Chuang and Hsueh, and nine years and six months for Hung.
