Image for illustrative purposes only / Image taken from Pixabay

Taipei, May 20 (CNA) Six people were taken in for questioning by the Ministry of Justice's Investigation Bureau Monday, accused of allegedly supplying counterfeit Philippine passports to Taiwanese students who want to enroll at a school in Taiwan that only accepts foreign nationals.

After receiving a tip off, Taipei District Prosecutors Office (TDPO) led a team of Investigation Bureau personnel to search the office of an immigration consulting firm in downtown Taipei, where six people were detained for further questioning, including the person in charge of the firm, a man surnamed Wang (王).

An unnamed source said the counterfeit passports were sold for over NT$100,000 (US$3,180) to parents wishing to enroll their children at the school, located in New Taipei's Linkou District.

The school, which accepts both junior and senior high school aged students has since 2016 accepted admissions for classes in line with the curriculum followed by schools in California, the United States, the source pointed out.

Moreover, the school only accepts students with foreign passports, the source added.

An initial investigation indicates that more than 10 passports may have already been sold, which would fall under the crime of document forgery.

After questioning, the six detainees including Wang, will be transferred to the TDPO where prosecutors will determine whether to arrest or release them.

(By Lin Chang-shun and William Yen)
Enditem/AW