Former Army Sergeant Charged with Leaking Military Secrets, Granted Bail

Chen Tai-yin, a former Army sergeant, was allegedly recruited by a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intelligence agent known as 'Brother Wang'. He is accused of photographing and handing over classified lecture materials to the agent. Chen, who was in detention, was transferred to the Taipei District Court yesterday, where the judge ruled to grant him bail of NT$200,000, along with restrictions on his residence and outbound travel.

The Taipei District Prosecutors Office's indictment states that Chen Tai-yin retired in September 2013. Between 2011 and 2013, he served in the 21st Artillery Command, 6th Army Corps, alongside then-Sergeant Li Chun-ta (now a lieutenant).

In November 2023, Chen Tai-yin met 'Brother Wang,' a CCP intelligence agent, through a friend. Facing financial difficulties and seeking ways to earn money, Chen was enticed by Brother Wang with the promise of compensation for delivering sensitive military information. Knowing that Li was still serving in the military, Chen arranged to meet him.

According to the indictment, Chen informed Li that he knew CCP intelligence agents and could exchange military documents for money. Chen then used the messaging app WeChat to call Brother Wang and introduce him to Li. Brother Wang offered Li double his monthly salary as compensation, with additional bonuses for cooperating in photographing and delivering sensitive military documents. However, Li did not accept Brother Wang's offer.

The indictment further details that Li Chun-ta began professional officer training on January 4, 2024, and consequently possessed classified lecture materials not publicly disclosed by the military. Chen Tai-yin, seeking to obtain these materials to exchange for compensation from Brother Wang, arranged to meet Li on April 7, 2024, under the pretext of returning money.

Around 8 PM on April 7, 2024, Chen and Li met in a parking lot in Beitou District, Taipei City. Inside Chen's car, Chen allegedly used his mobile phone to photograph, probe, and collect the classified lecture materials. He then transmitted the photographed files to Brother Wang.

Subsequently, Chen received 2,500 Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency coins from Brother Wang via an unsuspecting friend's cryptocurrency wallet. The friend converted the USDT to its New Taiwan Dollar equivalent at the market price and remitted NT$49,500 and NT$29,940 to Chen's accounts, resulting in an illegal profit of NT$79,440 for Chen.

After investigation, Prosecutor Yang Shu-wen of the Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted Chen and Li on May 12, charging them with violating the National Security Act for leaking, delivering, probing, and collecting documents and electromagnetic records that should be kept secret in their official capacity for mainland China, as well as violating the Anti-Corruption Act for abusing their positions for personal gain in matters outside their jurisdiction.

Chen Tai-yin voluntarily surrendered the criminal proceeds during the investigation, and the prosecutor requested the court to confiscate them. Chen, who had been detained during the investigation, was transferred to the Taipei District Court yesterday. (Editor: Hsiao Po-wen) May 13, 2024.