Prosecutors question NDU professor over alleged fraud, China links

Taipei, March 19 (CNA) The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office took Ke Ming-te (葛明德), a professor at National Defense University (NDU), in for questioning Wednesday over suspected fraud and potentially illegal links to China.

The prosecutors also brought nine other individuals in for questioning, either as suspects or witnesses, in connection with the investigation after conducting searches at Ke's residence and NDU's Chung Cheng Institute of Technology.

The case involves Ke's alleged secret collaboration with China through his company, Dexnano Chemicals Technology Co., which prosecutors believe he set up with his son, Ke Yi-fan (葛翊凡).

The investigation is focused on possible fraud related to research funding, but the aspect involving Ke's collaboration with China remains unclear.

In 2023, Deputy Health Minister Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), then a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker, said in the Legislature that NDU's Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) conducts critical precision systems research for Taiwan, with the professor overseeing technology integration and industry needs.

Lin accused Ke of "secretly" using his son as a front to establish Dexnano Chemicals Technology Co., and of collaborating with China on technology while running the company's board from the university for over a decade.

According to Lin, the professor had been involved in 117 projects under Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council and its forerunners, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Science Council, since 1997.

These included sensitive research projects such as advanced systems engineering, firearm parts, stealth paint and naval electromagnetic weapons, Lin said.

Lin suggested that Ke's dealings with China "could involve a potential leak of sensitive information" and the illegal transfer of research patents.

The case was referred to law enforcement authorities by the Ministry of National Defense, which has also been working alongside the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office in the case.

In a statement issued later on Wednesday, NDU said that the university will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation.