Cash-Strapped Soldiers Sell Secrets to Foreign Forces; Taoyuan Prosecutors Seek Heavy Sentences

A sergeant surnamed Su and a private surnamed Tsai in the Army, along with a friend surnamed Wang, joined an organization sent by China due to financial difficulties, leaking military classified documents for profit. Wang even provided his family's personal information as collateral. The Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office has indicted them for corruption and violations of the National Security Act, seeking heavy sentences. According to the indictment, 22-year-old Su enlisted as a volunteer soldier on September 6, 2023, and served as a sergeant squad leader in the Army infantry. 19-year-old Tsai enlisted as a conscript on June 24 last year, serving as a private in the Army infantry. In March this year, Su met individuals sent by China, including a man surnamed Huang (who is wanted for violating the National Security Act), through Tsai. Knowing that Su and Tsai were financially strapped soldiers, Huang lured them into providing military classified data, promising rewards ranging from several thousand to hundreds of thousands of New Taiwan Dollars depending on the content and level of the data. Tsai subsequently recruited 23-year-old Wang, who was also in need of money, into the group. Su and Wang were responsible for probing and collecting internal military secret documents and electronic records. In March this year, Tsai even instructed Wang to provide his family's personal information as collateral to join the fraud group, preventing Wang from withdrawing or embezzling illegal proceeds. The Taoyuan investigation found that Su and Tsai used mobile phones to photograph internal military data, including unit training operations, personnel files, and related military official documents, sending them to Huang via messaging apps and receiving 2,000 NTD in cryptocurrency. In March this year, Huang demanded that Su and Tsai provide classified data such as 'missile design structure diagrams, combat plans, Han Kuang Exercise details, weapon operation manuals, and internal management,' promising rewards of 200,000 to 500,000 NTD. However, no agreement was reached as their units did not possess such classified data. The Taoyuan Prosecutors Office noted that the case was uncovered after the military noticed irregularities and reported them. After evidence collection, prosecutors and investigators launched a search and detained the three individuals. The Taoyuan Prosecutors Office concluded the investigation today, finding that Su, Tsai, and Wang were involved in violations of the Organized Crime Prevention Act, the Anti-Corruption Act, the National Security Act (delivering official secret documents/electronic records to foreign entities), and the Personal Data Protection Act. Considering that Su and Tsai, as members of the national armed forces, disregarded national security for personal gain, the prosecutors have requested the court to impose heavy sentences.