Two aides to Taiwan lawmaker remanded in custody in suspected espionage case
In Taiwan, the High Court ordered two staff members from the office of independent lawmaker Mei Chin to be remanded in custody without the right to communicate as part of an investigation into suspected espionage for China. As the Taipei Times reports, they are Lin Yi-zhong and the lawmaker’s current chief of staff, Chen Zhi-huan.
Suspicions of creating a network
According to the High Prosecutors Office, Mei Chin’s former chief of staff, Zhang Junjie, may have created an espionage network in Taiwan that was funded by China and may have operated for more than 10 years. Investigators suspect Lin Yi-zhong and Chen Zhi-huan of involvement in this activity.
The court granted prosecutors’ request to hold both men in custody with restrictions on contact in order to prevent possible collusion, destruction of evidence or flight. Investigators believe Zhang recruited and organized Chinese agents in Taiwan and are examining the sources and intended use of the funds.
Prosecutors have not yet established whether Mei Chin herself was involved in the suspected espionage or knew about the alleged transfer of illegal funds from China.
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Former chief of staff’s escape
The decision concerning Lin and Chen was made four days after Zhang Junjie, who was charged with corruption-related offenses, cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and fled after being released on bail. A court had previously set his bail at NT$10 million. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
Police also detained a man surnamed Zhou, who is suspected of providing a vehicle for Zhang’s escape.
Separate proceedings over office funds
Lin and Chen are also co-defendants in a trial concerning the alleged misappropriation of NT$545,917 in budget funds intended for the salaries of parliamentary assistants. In June, the Taipei Prosecutors Office charged Mei Chin and 23 people linked to her office in a case involving alleged misappropriation of funds, document forgery, money laundering and the illegal importation of rapid COVID-19 tests from China.
According to prosecutors, Chen admitted to part of the allegations concerning the improper receipt of payments for allegedly unpaid parental leave while he continued to work and receive compensation.
