Liu Guan-chun Involved in Embezzling NT$190 Million from National Security Bureau; Case Dismissed Due to Expiration of Statute of Limitations
Former National Security Bureau Colonel Liu Guan-chun, accused of embezzling NT$190 million from the secret "Fengtian Project" fund and fleeing to China, has had his case dismissed. The Supreme Court rejected the prosecutor's appeal, confirming the expiration of the statute of limitations. Liu is also suspected of taking classified documents to China and engaging in espionage, for which he is separately wanted.
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- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 13:24
- 🔍 Collected: April 10, 2026 at 14:00 (36 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 18:52 (124h 52m after Collected)
Prosecutors accused Liu Guan-chun, formerly a colonel and chief of the cashier section in the National Security Bureau's General Affairs Office, of being in charge of the secret fund "Fengtian Project." Knowing that the fund's income and expenditure were not subject to normal internal control mechanisms, he allegedly successively embezzled over NT$190 million from the fund's interest by misappropriating public funds for fixed deposits and underreporting interest. After the incident, Liu Guan-chun absconded to China via Nanliao Fishing Port in Hsinchu City on September 3, 1999, and was subsequently wanted.
The first-instance Taipei District Court ruled that Liu Guan-chun was suspected of violating the amended Anti-Corruption Act, with the maximum principal penalty being life imprisonment. The statute of limitations for prosecution, according to the amended Criminal Code, was 20 years. Since he absconded and was wanted by the court, preventing the trial from proceeding, the statute of limitations should be extended by one-quarter of the period during which the prosecution was suspended due to the warrant, totaling 25 years. Therefore, Liu Guan-chun's statute of limitations for prosecution expired on February 24, 2025, and the case was dismissed on April 30 of the same year.
The prosecutor appealed to the second instance, which was heard by the Taiwan High Court. The High Court believed that some data in the first instance was incorrect and should be corrected. The statute of limitations for prosecution in this case should be corrected to expire on April 21, 2025, and still ruled for dismissal.
The case was appealed to the third instance, and after review, the Supreme Court found no error in the second instance's calculation of the expiration date of the statute of limitations for prosecution in this case. On the 9th, it rejected the prosecutor's appeal, making the dismissal final.
On the other hand, the National Security Bureau believes that Liu Guan-chun allegedly unauthorizedly photocopied highly classified documents such as "Fengtian," "Dangyang," and "Mingde," and took the originals and copies to China to defect to the enemy. He also allegedly assisted the Chinese Communist Party in deciphering them and engaged in espionage. In addition, Liu Guan-chun was also suspected of providing relevant classified documents to the media in 2002, exposing information such as Taiwan's diplomatic project funds, uses, and targets, severely endangering national security.
After the case was referred by the National Security Bureau to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office for investigation, a warrant was issued for Liu Guan-chun in 2021 for crimes such as defection to the enemy and engaging in espionage for the enemy under the Army, Navy, and Air Force Criminal Code. (Edited by Chen Ching-fang) 1150410
The first-instance Taipei District Court ruled that Liu Guan-chun was suspected of violating the amended Anti-Corruption Act, with the maximum principal penalty being life imprisonment. The statute of limitations for prosecution, according to the amended Criminal Code, was 20 years. Since he absconded and was wanted by the court, preventing the trial from proceeding, the statute of limitations should be extended by one-quarter of the period during which the prosecution was suspended due to the warrant, totaling 25 years. Therefore, Liu Guan-chun's statute of limitations for prosecution expired on February 24, 2025, and the case was dismissed on April 30 of the same year.
The prosecutor appealed to the second instance, which was heard by the Taiwan High Court. The High Court believed that some data in the first instance was incorrect and should be corrected. The statute of limitations for prosecution in this case should be corrected to expire on April 21, 2025, and still ruled for dismissal.
The case was appealed to the third instance, and after review, the Supreme Court found no error in the second instance's calculation of the expiration date of the statute of limitations for prosecution in this case. On the 9th, it rejected the prosecutor's appeal, making the dismissal final.
On the other hand, the National Security Bureau believes that Liu Guan-chun allegedly unauthorizedly photocopied highly classified documents such as "Fengtian," "Dangyang," and "Mingde," and took the originals and copies to China to defect to the enemy. He also allegedly assisted the Chinese Communist Party in deciphering them and engaged in espionage. In addition, Liu Guan-chun was also suspected of providing relevant classified documents to the media in 2002, exposing information such as Taiwan's diplomatic project funds, uses, and targets, severely endangering national security.
After the case was referred by the National Security Bureau to the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office for investigation, a warrant was issued for Liu Guan-chun in 2021 for crimes such as defection to the enemy and engaging in espionage for the enemy under the Army, Navy, and Air Force Criminal Code. (Edited by Chen Ching-fang) 1150410
FAQ
How was Liu Guan-chun's embezzlement case resolved?
The Supreme Court confirmed the expiration of the statute of limitations and rejected the prosecutor's appeal, leading to the dismissal of the case.
What other charges is Liu Guan-chun being investigated for?
He is separately wanted for allegedly taking classified national security documents to China, defecting to the enemy, and engaging in espionage.