An air force major surnamed Cheng (鄭) was yesterday handed a 19-month sentence after being found guilty of leaking classified files.
The sentencing was the latest development in a case of military officers linked to a Chinese espionage network that resulted in former air force colonel Liu Sheng-shu (劉聖恕) receiving a 20-year prison term.
Cheng’s case revolved around his time at the Songshan Air Force Base Command in Taipei, where he was in charge of the ground crew.
Photo: Pao Chien-hsin, Taipei Times
He had access to flight information and travel arrangements for government leaders.
The court ruled that Cheng had contravened the Classified National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法).
Cheng gave the spy network files from the base and materials relating to flights by government leaders, with Liu receiving money for such items from an official linked to a Chinese intelligence agency, investigators said.
“Cheng served at the Songshan Air Force Base Command, which supervises travel by the president, the vice president, the premier and ministers,” the court said.
“The materials are of utmost importance to national security,” it said.
“This case shows that Chinese agents have infiltrated many government agencies, including those related to intelligence, national defense and those handling the security of political leaders,” the court said.
Prosecutors coordinated with other investigative units from January to April, and questioned Liu and other defendants in the case, including a married couple who both served in the military, a lieutenant colonel surnamed Sun (孫) and his wife, a major surnamed Liu (劉).
The wife was sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison and the husband received a 19-year, six-month sentence.
Two other majors, surnamed Kung (龔) and Teng (鄧), were also indicted, with Kung sentenced to three years and six months and Teng to two years.
Another man received a six-month sentence.
Prosecutor Chen Chun-hung (陳俊宏) said that the investigation into Cheng’s activities was launched in August.
His sentence can be appealed.
The court last month said that Liu, who retired in 2013, was the principal figure in the case.
Following his retirement, he traveled to China, where he was linked to a company operated by Taiwanese, it said.
He widened his social network, and was approached by Chinese intelligence officials and agreed to spy for China, the court said.
Liu set up a company in Taiwan, which the Chinese agents would transfer money to, the court said.
They asked Liu to recruit Taiwanese military officers to develop a spy network, it said.
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