4 ex-DPP members indicted for espionage

Taipei, June 10 (CNA) The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted four former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members on Tuesday for alleged espionage on behalf of China.

In a news statement, the office said it indicted Huang Chu-jung (黃取榮) and Chiu Shih-yuan (邱世元) for divulging or delivering classified national security information to China; disclosing, delivering, or transmitting confidential information for official use to China; and money laundering.

Huang was also charged with "developing a criminal organization" for China by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office, the statement said. As that case involves threats to national security and social stability, the high court has jurisdiction over the initial trial, the statement added.

Meanwhile, Ho Jen-chieh (何仁傑) was charged with the first two violations, while Wu Shang-yu (吳尚雨) was charged with divulging or delivering classified national security information to a foreign country, the statement said.

All four are currently in custody, according to the statement.

Huang, who formerly worked as an assistant to DPP New Taipei Councilor Lee Yu-tien (李余典), was allegedly recruited by Chinese intelligence while conducting business in China in 2017, prosecutors said.

After returning to Taiwan, he collected confidential information, including details of the president's and vice president's visits to allied nations, through Chiu, the former deputy head of the DPP's Taiwan Institute of Democracy.

Prosecutors said Huang and Chiu obtained the information from Wu, a former Presidential Office advisor, and Ho, who had served as an assistant to National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) during his tenure as foreign minister.

Huang allegedly passed the confidential information to Chinese intelligence and paid Chiu, Ho and Wu Shang-yu several thousand Taiwan dollars, according to prosecutors.

In their sentencing recommendations, prosecutors said Huang and Chiu had engaged in espionage over an extended period, obtaining confidential information from Ho and Wu Shang-yu in exchange for illicit payments from Chinese intelligence -- actions that constitute serious criminal conduct.

Prosecutors added that Ho, while serving as a senior advisor on security and foreign affairs, betrayed the nation's trust by leaking classified information over a prolonged period, posing a serious threat to national security.

Prosecutors considered Wu Shang-yu's actions serious, as he cooperated with Chiu and leaked sensitive information.

Prosecutors further noted that Huang and Ho denied any wrongdoing during the investigation and fabricated false information to mislead authorities.

However, Chiu and Wu Shang-yu both confessed to their crimes.

In a separate case, Sheng Chu-ying (盛礎纓), a former assistant to then-Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) has been accused of leaking legislative information to Chinese intelligence.

She has been released on bail and is subject to electronic monitoring. She has not yet been indicted.

All five were expelled by the DPP in May.