Hsu Chih-hsin Sentenced on 10 Corruption Charges for Fraud Using Yilan Magistrate's Name

(CNA, Taipei, June 9) Former Yilan County specialist Hsu Chih-hsin, who defrauded people by using the title of a secretary to Magistrate Lin Tzu-miao, has had his sentence finalized for 7 charges and is already in prison. For another 10 charges, the High Court's retrial sentenced him under the Anti-Corruption Act to prison terms ranging from 7 years and 2 months to 7 years and 10 months, with a consolidated sentence yet to be determined. The Supreme Court has rejected his appeal, finalizing the verdict.

The case originated from the period between February 2020 and September 2023, when Hsu was employed as a salesperson for the Yilan County Government's Public Property Development Fund and also served as a specialist for Magistrate Lin Tzu-miao's team in Yilan City. He represented or accompanied the magistrate at events, leading several plaintiffs to mistakenly believe he had a close relationship with the magistrate and was financially stable.

Hsu, who was in debt due to investment losses, falsely claimed that he could facilitate investments in county government tenders and procurement projects, inducing the plaintiffs to hand over amounts ranging from NT$200,000 to NT$12,800,000.

Hsu was convicted on 7 counts of fraud, which were not related to his duties as a public official. That verdict was finalized, and he is serving a 2-year and 6-month prison sentence. For the other 10 counts of fraud, the Taiwan High Court's retrial found that, based on the evidence, Hsu had indeed committed 10 offenses of a public official using opportunities arising from their duties to defraud, under the Anti-Corruption Act. Taking into account his poor post-offense attitude, the court sentenced him to terms ranging from 7 years and 2 months to 7 years and 10 months for each count.

Upon appeal, the Supreme Court, after review, found no errors in the original judgment's fact-finding or application of law and deemed the sentencing appropriate. It rejected the appeal on June 3rd, finalizing the case. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150609