Man accused of assisting wealthy businessman Zhong Wen-zhi in fleeing sentenced to 6 months in first trial
A man surnamed Cheng was sentenced to 6 months in prison without probation for premeditatedly helping convicted wealthy businessman Zhong Wen-zhi escape to China.
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- 📰 Published: April 9, 2026 at 21:33
- 🔍 Collected: April 9, 2026 at 22:00 (27 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 08:43 (250h 43m after Collected)
A ruling by the Taipei District Court pointed out that a man surnamed Cheng admitted his crime and showed a decent attitude. Considering his motive, methods, the circumstances, and his relationship with Zhong Wen-zhi, he was sentenced to 6 months in prison, which can be commuted to a fine.
The defense attorney requested a suspended sentence for Cheng, but the court considered that Cheng had simulated routes multiple times with a man surnamed Feng under Zhong Wen-zhi's instructions, clearly indicating long-term premeditation rather than a spontaneous crime out of momentary indiscretion. Moreover, he did not actively and voluntarily disclose Zhong Wen-zhi's whereabouts after the crime, so a suspended sentence was not granted.
According to the judgment, a man surnamed Yu admitted to selling the vehicle that carried Zhong Wen-zhi but denied any offense of harboring a criminal or using forged special documents. He argued that he did not know the vehicle carried Zhong Wen-zhi and agreed to sell the car only because he was commissioned by Feng, without knowing the vehicle's purpose. Due to insufficient evidence, he was found not guilty.
Zhong Wen-zhi was suspected of violating the Securities and Exchange Act, making illegal profits of over NT$400 million. The Supreme Court finalized his combined sentence of 30 years and 5 months on March 12 last year. After receiving notice, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office initiated an anti-escape mechanism. Because Zhong failed to report to the police station as required, prosecutors believed he had fled or hidden, and issued a wanted warrant.
Prosecutors found that on the afternoon of the day Zhong Wen-zhi's sentence was finalized, he took a taxi to Shiding District, New Taipei City, and transferred to a passenger car driven by Cheng and Feng. After changing to forged license plates, they drove to a location in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, where the three men switched to a passenger car driven by Yu and fled towards Toucheng Township, Yilan County. Zhong Wen-zhi took an unidentified boat to China the next day. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Cheng and the other two in September last year. Feng, who remains at large, is still wanted.
The defense attorney requested a suspended sentence for Cheng, but the court considered that Cheng had simulated routes multiple times with a man surnamed Feng under Zhong Wen-zhi's instructions, clearly indicating long-term premeditation rather than a spontaneous crime out of momentary indiscretion. Moreover, he did not actively and voluntarily disclose Zhong Wen-zhi's whereabouts after the crime, so a suspended sentence was not granted.
According to the judgment, a man surnamed Yu admitted to selling the vehicle that carried Zhong Wen-zhi but denied any offense of harboring a criminal or using forged special documents. He argued that he did not know the vehicle carried Zhong Wen-zhi and agreed to sell the car only because he was commissioned by Feng, without knowing the vehicle's purpose. Due to insufficient evidence, he was found not guilty.
Zhong Wen-zhi was suspected of violating the Securities and Exchange Act, making illegal profits of over NT$400 million. The Supreme Court finalized his combined sentence of 30 years and 5 months on March 12 last year. After receiving notice, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office initiated an anti-escape mechanism. Because Zhong failed to report to the police station as required, prosecutors believed he had fled or hidden, and issued a wanted warrant.
Prosecutors found that on the afternoon of the day Zhong Wen-zhi's sentence was finalized, he took a taxi to Shiding District, New Taipei City, and transferred to a passenger car driven by Cheng and Feng. After changing to forged license plates, they drove to a location in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, where the three men switched to a passenger car driven by Yu and fled towards Toucheng Township, Yilan County. Zhong Wen-zhi took an unidentified boat to China the next day. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Cheng and the other two in September last year. Feng, who remains at large, is still wanted.