Prosecutors probe employees, contractor over Radio Taiwan Int'l hack

Taipei, Oct. 13 (CNA) The Taipei District Prosecutors Office on Monday said it was investigating two employees and an outside contractor on suspicion of targeting Radio Taiwan International (RTI) with cyberattacks.

Prosecutors said the RTI reported the case after discovering its website had been hacked on Sept. 11, with its homepage banner replaced.

Prosecutors also allege that the suspects intended to launch a repeat cyberattack on Taiwan's National Day on Oct. 10.

According to prosecutors, the suspects included a website engineer surnamed Wu (吳), a manager surnamed Yueh (岳) and a contractor surnamed Huang (黃).

Following a series of raids on residences and workplaces, Wu and Yueh were brought in for questioning on Sept. 26.

On Oct. 9, after analyzing evidence seized from the raid, a second raid was carried out in eight locations related to the three suspects, who were subsequently questioned.

After questioning the suspects on the morning of Oct. 10, prosecutors requested that Wu and Huang be held without bail.

Yueh, meanwhile, was granted bail of NT$100,000 (US$3,258) and required to wear an electronic monitor and not leave the country.

On Saturday, the Taipei District Court denied the request to hold Wu and Huang without bail, instead setting it at NT$270,000 for Wu and NT$150,000 for Huang, a ruling that prosecutors appealed on Monday.

In a statement released Monday, RTI said it has suspended the two employees from their duties and will file criminal complaints against the suspects for breach of trust, damage of property and offenses against computer security.

RTI said it will also file a civil suit to seek compensation for the harm caused to the radio station's reputation and property.