Former CTi News anchor and journalist in Taiwan, “Ma De” Lin Chenyou, was implicated in a spy case. During the investigation, prosecutors discovered that a retired army veteran surnamed Xu was suspected of handing over national secrets to overseas hostile groups while in service, in exchange for bribes facilitated by Lin Chenyou. Xu was subsequently charged with offenses under the National Security Law.
Lin Chenyou, a former CTi News anchor and journalist in Taiwan, allegedly befriended members of overseas hostile groups through the internet, enticing military personnel to shoot pro-Communist videos and bribing six current and former army personnel serving in the army and navy with transferred funds.
During the investigation into Lin Chenyou’s alleged spy case, prosecutors found that Lin Chenyou had connections with a foreign hostile group named “PPRIT”. It was revealed that the six military personnel involved in the case allegedly agreed to photograph internal military documents and electromagnetic records with their phones, sending them to the overseas hostile group through communication software. Lin Chenyou was accused of receiving equivalent payments in Taedas as compensation.
Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office announced on August 10 that while investigating members of the overseas hostile group PPRIT involved in bribing military personnel for leaking secrets through a media personality and journalist surnamed Lin, they found that Xu received bribes from Lin and subsequently disclosed the national defense secrets related to military operations and national security.
Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office stated that Xu allegedly met members of overseas hostile groups including PPRIT through the messaging platform LINE during his service. He is suspected of using opportunities obtained through his duties to acquire national defense secrets, such as military operational plans, and transmitted them through the Telegram messaging software to the overseas hostile group in exchange for the bribes received by Lin and the virtual currency stored by PPRIT.
In July, Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office received a request from the New Taipei City Investigation Bureau to investigate Xu for violations of the National Security Act. After Xu was detained and brought in for questioning, the prosecutors requested and obtained his detention. Following the investigation by the prosecuting attorney, Xu was charged with violations of the National Security Act, Armed Forces Criminal Code, Anti-Corruption Act Article 4 Paragraph 1 Section 5, and National Security Law. The case was transferred to the Kaohsiung District Court.
Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office emphasized that national security is fundamental to democracy, and the increasing infiltration and espionage by the Chinese Communist Party and foreign hostile forces into Taiwan pose a growing threat. They have actively collaborated with relevant national security units to form a task force to conduct meticulous investigations and ensure national stability and the safety of the Taiwanese people.
Lin Chenyou was indicted by prosecutors from Kaohsiung Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office on charges of violating the Anti-Infiltration Act, corruption, and money laundering. The six current and former military personnel were charged with receiving bribes in violation of the Anti-Corruption Act, transferring classified electromagnetic records to Mainland China in breach of national security laws, and espionage. Both Lin Chenyou and the six military personnel were remanded in custody pending trial at the Qiaotou District Court.