Pingtung Prison Instructor Becomes Fraud Driver; Sentenced to Dismissal and 2-Year Employment Ban
A former workshop instructor at Pingtung Prison joined a fraud syndicate as a cash courier during his sick leave. The Disciplinary Court has ruled to dismiss him and ban him from public office for two years.
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- 📰 Published: April 26, 2026 at 20:46
- 🔍 Collected: April 26, 2026 at 21:01 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 26, 2026 at 21:05 (3 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, reporter Xie Jun-lin, Taipei, 26th) A man surnamed Chi, formerly a workshop instructor at Pingtung Prison, joined a fraud syndicate as a "driver" (cash courier) while on sick leave. He was sentenced to 11 months in prison in the first instance and granted 3 years of probation on appeal. The Ministry of Justice referred Chi to the Disciplinary Court, which ruled to dismiss him and suspend his eligibility for employment for two years.
The judgment stated that Chi had been a workshop instructor at Pingtung Prison since June 18, 2013. Between February 14 and July 18 last year, he was on approved leave due to injuries from a car accident and depression. However, he joined a fraud syndicate in June of that same year, participating in six cash handovers involving NT$3.75 million.
According to the judgment, on July 2 last year, Chi attempted to collect NT$1.5 million from a victim surnamed Zhang but failed and was arrested. After being indicted, the first instance court sentenced him to 11 months for attempted fraud. The high court rejected his appeal but granted a 3-year probation.
During the disciplinary proceedings, Chi claimed that his income had drastically decreased after taking leave and that he needed to pay compensation for his traffic accident. He stated he sought delivery work online to ease his financial burden and support his nearly 90-year-old mother, but mistakenly joined a criminal group. He expressed willingness to settle with the victims and had already paid over one-third of the compensation, requesting a lighter penalty.
However, the court considered that as a public official in a correctional institution, Chi failed to act with caution and seriously damaged the reputation of the government. Consequently, he was dismissed and banned from reappointment for two years on April 21. The case is eligible for appeal. (Editor: Zhang Yajing) 1150426
The judgment stated that Chi had been a workshop instructor at Pingtung Prison since June 18, 2013. Between February 14 and July 18 last year, he was on approved leave due to injuries from a car accident and depression. However, he joined a fraud syndicate in June of that same year, participating in six cash handovers involving NT$3.75 million.
According to the judgment, on July 2 last year, Chi attempted to collect NT$1.5 million from a victim surnamed Zhang but failed and was arrested. After being indicted, the first instance court sentenced him to 11 months for attempted fraud. The high court rejected his appeal but granted a 3-year probation.
During the disciplinary proceedings, Chi claimed that his income had drastically decreased after taking leave and that he needed to pay compensation for his traffic accident. He stated he sought delivery work online to ease his financial burden and support his nearly 90-year-old mother, but mistakenly joined a criminal group. He expressed willingness to settle with the victims and had already paid over one-third of the compensation, requesting a lighter penalty.
However, the court considered that as a public official in a correctional institution, Chi failed to act with caution and seriously damaged the reputation of the government. Consequently, he was dismissed and banned from reappointment for two years on April 21. The case is eligible for appeal. (Editor: Zhang Yajing) 1150426