Taiwan prosecutors probe Unimicron over relabeling of China-made PCBs

Taoyuan, Aug. 29 (CNA) Leading printed circuit board (PCB) maker Unimicron Technology Corp. is under investigation for allegedly relabeling some of its products made in China as originating from Taiwan, according to Taoyuan prosecutors.

Of those questioned, a PCB department general manager surnamed Wang (王) was released on NT$15 million (US$474,000) bail on Saturday, while four other executives posted bail ranging from NT$300,000 to NT$12 million, prosecutors said on that day.

The other nine questioned were released without bail, prosecutors added.

Taoyuan prosecutors said the firm allegedly shipped its PCB products made in China back to Taiwan and falsely re-labeled them as local products, in violation of Criminal Code provisions on document forgery and false labeling of origin, according to a press release.

In a joint operation on Friday, prosecutors and investigative agents raided Unimicron's headquarters in Guishan District and a manufacturing plant in Zhongli District, taking in 14 executives and employees for questioning.

The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office said it will further expand its investigation to clarify the full scope of the case.

Unimicron spokesperson Chung Ming-feng (鍾明峰) said in a statement Friday that the company is fully cooperating with the investigation regarding disputes over product origins.

A PCB connects electronic components inside modern devices, while Unimicron is a major global supplier of ABF substrates, which are used in advanced semiconductor packaging for high-performance computing, AI and smartphone applications.