Malaysian influencer sentenced to 6 months in prison over scamming case

Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) A Malaysian influencer has been sentenced to 6 months in prison for his involvement in a Taiwanese scamming ring, the Changhua District Court announced recently.

According to the court's ruling, the 31-year-old Hu Chang Mun (許振文), who worked as a money mule for the fraud ring, was found guilty on Jan. 2 of attempting to scam a Taiwanese national out of NT$2.88 million (US$87,799).

As Hu was not a core member of the fraud group, pleaded guilty and was cooperative following his arrest, the court decided on leniency.

However, Hu is not eligible to have the sentence commuted to a fine and must serve the six months, according to the court.

The ruling also indicated that as a foreign national found guilty of fraud in Taiwan, the Malaysian national will be deported after serving his sentence, or on receiving a pardon, as he is "not fit to remain in Taiwan."

Better known by his influencer name Ady Hu, the Malaysian content creator came to Taiwan in December last year on a travel visa.

However, his family lost contact with him and his parents held a press conference in Malaysia on Dec. 18, 2024, to ask the authorities in Taiwan to help them locate their son.

It was later confirmed that a foreign national arrested by Changhua County Police Department's Yuanlin Precinct on Dec. 11 was Hu.

According to an indictment released by the Changhua Dstrict Prosecutors Office, Hu became a money mule for a Taiwanese scam ring as early as Dec. 6.

Hu's arrest was made possible after an unnamed individual realized that he was being scammed when asked to pay NT$2.88 million for an alleged stock trading opportunity that was brought to his attention over communications application Line.

After concluding the "opportunity" was a scam, the prospective victim reported the matter to the police.

During an operation on Dec. 11, the would-be victim helped trap Hu with fake bank notes inside a coffee shop in Changhua's Yuanlin City.

Hu claimed to be a foreign agent for the investment deal who was sent to collect the funds from the victim, but after taking the money, was arrested by undercover police officers.

The court's ruling revealed that Hu admitted to having received NT$20,000 as payment for his participation in the ring, NT$11,000 of which has been entered into evidence, while the remainder has been confiscated.

Hu's sentence can still be appealed.