TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan High Court on Thursday sentenced former aide to a DPP city councilor Huang Chu-jung (黃取榮) to 10 years in prison for helping China develop an intelligence network in Taiwan.
CNA reported that prosecutors accused Huang of recruiting two people for Chinese intelligence operations. The ruling can be appealed.
The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office indicted Huang last year for breaking the National Security Act. Prosecutors said he recruited DPP staffer Chiu Shih-yuan (邱世元) and former foreign ministry adviser Ho Jen-chieh (何仁傑).
Investigators said Huang had done business in China before Chinese intelligence officers recruited him in 2017. After returning to Taiwan, Huang and Chiu allegedly received payments to collect government secrets.
Prosecutors said Huang and Chiu tried to gather information from former Vice President Office adviser Wu Shang-yu (吳尚雨) and Ho. The information involved presidential and vice presidential visits to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies.
Prosecutors said Huang received about NT$6.08 million (US$207,000) from Chinese intelligence officers. They asked the court to seize the money as criminal proceeds.
Separately, Huang was also convicted in another case involving national secrets and money laundering. In June, the Taiwan High Court reduced his sentence in that case from 10 years to six years in prison, SETN reported.
