Former Employee of Chain Steakhouse Falsifies Consumption Points; Appeal Rejected in Second Trial

(CNA reporter Su Mu-chun, Taichung, June 13) A man surnamed Hong, while employed at a chain steakhouse, falsified NT$1.12 million in consumption points. He was prosecuted after attempting to use these points to offset a meal, and was sentenced to four months in prison in the first trial for violating the Computer-Related Crime Prevention Act, with the option of paying a fine in lieu of incarceration. The Taiwan High Court Taichung Branch rejected his appeal in the second trial, though the case remains appealable.

According to the prosecution's indictment, from May to July of 2024 (ROC Year 113), Hong worked at a branch of the chain steakhouse in Yuanli Township, Miaoli County. He exploited his position to create fake membership accounts under false names and logged three fabricated transactions into the system, totaling NT$1.12 million in fake consumption, accumulating 12,200 points.

In August 2024, Hong visited another branch in Qingshui District, Taichung City, and presented his membership app to offset a NT$720 meal. Staff noticed irregularities in his account and reported it to the police. The Taichung District Prosecutors Office investigated and indicted Hong on charges of fraud and violating the Computer-Related Crime Prevention Act.

During the first trial at Taichung District Court, Hong denied the charges, claiming a colleague had offered him unused points and that he was unaware of the balance in the account when asked if he had membership points to offset his meal.

However, his colleague denied this in court, and company management testified that points cannot be transferred between members and that no single branch could generate NT$1 million in daily revenue. The court also confirmed that the timing of the point accumulation coincided with Hong's employment at the Yuanli branch, establishing clear evidence.

The Taichung District Court sentenced Hong to four months in prison for violating the Computer-Related Crime Prevention Act, with the option of paying a fine instead.

The case was appealed to the Taiwan High Court Taichung Branch. The appellate panel found the evidence conclusive. Although Hong repaid the value of the redeemed meal, the court noted his denial of guilt and attempts to shift blame, deeming his post-offense attitude poor. The appeal was recently rejected, though the case remains subject to further appeal. (Edited by Li Ming-tsung) 1150613