Lin Chen-yu Accused of Being CCP Proxy, Producing Programs and Bribery; Prosecutors Seek 12-Year Sentence
Taiwanese journalist Lin Chen-yu has been indicted for allegedly receiving funds from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to produce videos on specific political topics and acting as a middleman to bribe six active and retired military personnel. Prosecutors are seeking a 12-year sentence, charging him with violating the Anti-infiltration Act, corruption, and money laundering.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 21:55
- 🔍 Collected: May 6, 2026 at 22:01 (6 min after Published)
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Hung Hsueh-kuang, Kaohsiung, 6th) Chung Tien Television (CTi) reporter Lin Chen-yu is alleged to have received funds from hostile foreign forces to produce videos on specific topics, including anti-recall campaigns and attacks on specific political figures. He also acted as a middleman to bribe six active and retired military personnel. The Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office has indicted him on charges including violating the Anti-infiltration Act, corruption, and money laundering, and is seeking a combined sentence of 12 years.
According to the prosecution's investigation, Lin Chen-yu collaborated with a Chinese national known online as "Huang E-lan" through his YouTube channel "Ma De You Shi Ma?" (What's Up, Ma?). Following instructions, he produced videos such as "Exposing the Six Major Conspiracies of the Green Communist" and "The Great Recall, Great Blockade," which attacked specific political parties and figures, targeting two waves of legislative recall elections held on July 26 and August 23 last year.
The video topics included anti-recall efforts, Taiwan-US tariffs, and preliminary elections for mayors in the green camp. Lin Chen-yu would send his scripts to "Huang E-lan" for review in advance, and later send screenshots of video traffic to claim payment. He received varying amounts of Tether (USDT) based on video traffic. One video discussing the DPP's Tainan mayoral primary election earned him 2,000 Tether, the highest single payment. In total, Lin Chen-yu received 4,325 Tether for producing these programs, valued at over NT$130,000.
Furthermore, starting in 2023, Lin Chen-yu provided five bank accounts under his name to hostile foreign forces to serve as a channel for bribing military personnel. Each transfer allowed him to extract hundreds of New Taiwan Dollars as a reward, thereby concealing his illicit gains through money laundering. His estimated illegal proceeds from this activity totaled approximately NT$169,493.
The prosecution noted that while Lin Chen-yu admitted to transferring money to bribe military personnel, he claimed he did not know the funds originated from hostile foreign forces. He also confessed to producing programs under the direction of hostile foreign forces.
Regarding the requested sentence, Lin Chen-yu's criminal acts include producing programs under the direction of hostile foreign forces, influencing domestic public opinion, and assisting hostile foreign forces with funds to bribe military officers and soldiers. The former act is charged under the Anti-infiltration Act, with a specific request for 5 years. However, due to the continuous nature and consistent purpose of the crimes, they are legally considered a single violation of the Anti-infiltration Act.
As for assisting hostile foreign forces with funds, bribing military officers and soldiers with virtual currency, this act involves three crimes: violating the Anti-infiltration Act, bribery, and money laundering. Legally, the heaviest sentence among these three charges will be applied, which is a maximum of 7 years. Lin Chen-yu's two criminal acts are subject to maximum sentences of 5 and 7 years, respectively. Since the intent and actions are different, the prosecution requests separate sentencing for each, leading to a combined maximum sentence of 12 years. (Edited by Huang Ming-hsi) 1150506
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(Central News Agency reporter Hung Hsueh-kuang, Kaohsiung, 6th) Chung Tien Television (CTi) reporter Lin Chen-yu is alleged to have received funds from hostile foreign forces to produce videos on specific topics, including anti-recall campaigns and attacks on specific political figures. He also acted as a middleman to bribe six active and retired military personnel. The Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office has indicted him on charges including violating the Anti-infiltration Act, corruption, and money laundering, and is seeking a combined sentence of 12 years.
According to the prosecution's investigation, Lin Chen-yu collaborated with a Chinese national known online as "Huang E-lan" through his YouTube channel "Ma De You Shi Ma?" (What's Up, Ma?). Following instructions, he produced videos such as "Exposing the Six Major Conspiracies of the Green Communist" and "The Great Recall, Great Blockade," which attacked specific political parties and figures, targeting two waves of legislative recall elections held on July 26 and August 23 last year.
The video topics included anti-recall efforts, Taiwan-US tariffs, and preliminary elections for mayors in the green camp. Lin Chen-yu would send his scripts to "Huang E-lan" for review in advance, and later send screenshots of video traffic to claim payment. He received varying amounts of Tether (USDT) based on video traffic. One video discussing the DPP's Tainan mayoral primary election earned him 2,000 Tether, the highest single payment. In total, Lin Chen-yu received 4,325 Tether for producing these programs, valued at over NT$130,000.
Furthermore, starting in 2023, Lin Chen-yu provided five bank accounts under his name to hostile foreign forces to serve as a channel for bribing military personnel. Each transfer allowed him to extract hundreds of New Taiwan Dollars as a reward, thereby concealing his illicit gains through money laundering. His estimated illegal proceeds from this activity totaled approximately NT$169,493.
The prosecution noted that while Lin Chen-yu admitted to transferring money to bribe military personnel, he claimed he did not know the funds originated from hostile foreign forces. He also confessed to producing programs under the direction of hostile foreign forces.
Regarding the requested sentence, Lin Chen-yu's criminal acts include producing programs under the direction of hostile foreign forces, influencing domestic public opinion, and assisting hostile foreign forces with funds to bribe military officers and soldiers. The former act is charged under the Anti-infiltration Act, with a specific request for 5 years. However, due to the continuous nature and consistent purpose of the crimes, they are legally considered a single violation of the Anti-infiltration Act.
As for assisting hostile foreign forces with funds, bribing military officers and soldiers with virtual currency, this act involves three crimes: violating the Anti-infiltration Act, bribery, and money laundering. Legally, the heaviest sentence among these three charges will be applied, which is a maximum of 7 years. Lin Chen-yu's two criminal acts are subject to maximum sentences of 5 and 7 years, respectively. Since the intent and actions are different, the prosecution requests separate sentencing for each, leading to a combined maximum sentence of 12 years. (Edited by Huang Ming-hsi) 1150506
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