Head of Man Tang Hong Restaurant Granted NT$2 Million Bail in Alleged Money Laundering for Fraud Ring

Central Message (CNA reporter Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei, 18th) Tsai Min-ju, head of Man Tang Hong International Catering Co., is suspected of using dummy accounts from multiple companies to conduct multi-layered money laundering, assisting a fraud group in concealing illicit funds. She was indicted by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, which sought a 10-year sentence. Tsai applied to the court for release on bail. The Taipei District Court granted it for NT$2 million, with a travel ban and electronic bracelet monitoring. The indictment from the Taipei District Prosecutors Office states that starting from July 114 (Republic of China calendar), Tsai Min-ju cooperated with a certain fraud group, engaging in activities such as withdrawing, receiving, and returning fraudulent funds (commonly known as "backwater"), handling a total of over NT$52.87 million. The Taipei Prosecutors Office concluded its investigation in March of this year and indicted Tsai and 17 others for fraud and other crimes, requesting the Taipei District Court to continue Tsai's detention and sentence her to 10 years in prison. Tsai recently applied to the court for release on bail. She admitted to the court the crimes of directing and operating a money laundering criminal organization and money laundering. She stated that her personal property and accounts were seized, making it temporarily difficult to find a guarantor, leading to her detention. She claimed to have now raised a considerable amount for bail and requested a reduction in the bail amount to stop her detention. The Taipei District Court's ruling pointed out that after questioning, the judge believed Tsai's denial of directing a criminal organization to commit fraud against the public by three or more people online was not credible, and the suspicion of her crime was significant. Furthermore, Tsai traveled abroad frequently, admitted to having assets in places like Guam, and had plans to immigrate. The crime she is involved in carries a minimum sentence of five years, and as she played a directing and controlling role, her future sentence could be severe, increasing the likelihood of her fleeing. According to the ruling, the judge considered that although the reasons for Tsai's detention still exist, she has been detained for a considerable time and should have learned her lesson. Considering the circumstances of her involvement, identity, status, and financial resources, if she could provide a substantial bail amount, supplemented by measures such as restricted residence, it should be sufficient to create a considerable psychological restraint on her, ensuring the smooth progress of future criminal proceedings. This would be a viable alternative to continued detention. Therefore, on the 15th, the Taipei District Court ruled that after Tsai provides a NT$2 million bail, her detention would be suspended. She is also subject to restricted residence and an 8-month ban on leaving the country and going to sea, and is not allowed to contact co-defendants and witnesses. She must report to the local police station every Tuesday and Friday and wear an electronic bracelet for technological monitoring. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150518 Stand with facts; every donation you make is a force for protecting press freedom. Download the CNA "First-Hand News" APP to get the latest news in real-time. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.