Chiayi councilor indicted for money-laundering, organized crime

Taipei, Dec. 29 (CNA) Independent Chiayi County Councilor Tsai Cheng-yi (蔡政宜) has been indicted by the Taiwan Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office for cross-border money laundering and involvement in organized crime, prosecutors said Monday.

Tsai was indicted on Dec. 18 on charges of initiating, hosting, controlling or directing a criminal organization, aggravated money laundering, and providing venues for gambling or organizing gambling for profit, according to a prosecutors' statement.

Six members of the money laundering ring have also been indicted, while arrest warrants have been issued for seven suspects who fled abroad, including Tsai's wife, surnamed Tang (唐).

Prosecutors noted that Tsai and Tang established the organization in 2020 to collect and distribute funds for a Thailand-based gambling website. Members were directed to set up operational bases in Taiwan, including seven in Kaohsiung, as well as in Malaysia and Vietnam, and to acquire large numbers of dummy accounts to conceal illicit cash flows.

The syndicate allegedly laundered 24.25 billion baht (US$776.9 million), generating illicit gains of 214.95 million baht for Tsai and Tang, prosecutors said.

Authorities have seized 85 luxury handbags and one luxury watch, as well as cash and real estate valued at NT$174.42 million (US$5.56 million), the statement said.

Prosecutors noted that Tsai had previously been convicted of fixing baseball games and sentenced to three years and eight months in prison. Despite being elected as a councilor, he allegedly showed no remorse and instead exploited his public office to shield criminal activities.

According to prosecutors, Tsai acted as the behind-the-scenes mastermind of the money laundering operation, directing it through his wife while publicly denying any involvement. Prosecutors are seeking a 10-year prison sentence.

Members of the syndicate were initially arrested before investigators traced the operation's leadership to Tsai, who was arrested on Aug. 31 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.