Internet celebrity lawyer sentenced to 5 months for aiding money laundering

(CNA) Taipei, July 7 - Internet celebrity lawyer Ms. Li, accused of colluding with a fraud ring, was indicted by prosecutors for offenses including leaking information. The Taipei District Court stated that Ms. Li, as a practicing lawyer, should have performed her duties with integrity and honesty, but instead aided money laundering, for which she should be condemned. She was sentenced to 5 months in prison today for aiding money laundering.

During the investigation into a fraud ring led by Ms. Wu and Mr. Lu, who defrauded people in relation to ancestral tomb plots, police discovered the involvement of lawyers Ms. Li, Mr. Zhao, and Mr. Cai. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office indicted the three last year for offenses including leaking information and money laundering, and also referred them to the Disciplinary Committee for Lawyers under the Lawyers Act.

After trial, the Taipei District Court today sentenced Ms. Li to 5 months in prison for aiding money laundering. If a fine is commuted, it will be calculated at NT$1,000 per day, and she was also fined NT$80,000. She was acquitted of the charge of leaking information. Mr. Cai was sentenced to 6 months in prison for leaking information, with a commutation of NT$1,000 per day if a fine is commuted. Mr. Zhao was acquitted.

The verdict stated that when police executed search and seizure warrants in April last year, Ms. Wu's private car and gold jewelry were not immediately seized but were considered criminal proceeds and should have been confiscated. Ms. Li, however, transmitted information about selling the vehicle and jewelry to Mr. Chen, who then assisted in liquidating them. These actions constituted Ms. Li as a principal or accomplice in money laundering under the Money Laundering Control Act.

However, the collegiate bench found that the content Ms. Li informed Mr. Chen of did not involve leaking or delivering important matters under investigation. This differed from the typical "fraud ring lawyer" who intentionally relays messages to co-conspirators to evade pursuit and disrupt investigation plans, and therefore it was difficult to conclude that it harmed the smooth progress of the investigation or the discovery of truth. She was thus acquitted of the charge of leaking information.

The collegiate bench considered that Ms. Li confessed to the money laundering offense during the prosecution's investigation and the court's trial. There was also no evidence to prove that Ms. Li obtained criminal proceeds from the money laundering offense. Her sentence should be reduced according to the Money Laundering Control Act.

According to the verdict, lawyer Mr. Cai leaked information about the victims known to the police during the investigation, which was sufficient to obstruct the smooth progress of the investigation and the discovery of truth, constituting the offense of leaking non-defense secrets known through professional duties by a non-public official under the Criminal Code.

The verdict stated that Ms. Li and Mr. Cai, as practicing lawyers with legal expertise, should have placed greater importance on legal order, exercised self-restraint, adhered to ethical standards for lawyers, and performed their duties with integrity and honesty. Instead, they engaged in aiding money laundering and leaking investigation secrets, respectively, and should therefore be condemned.

Regarding lawyer Mr. Zhao, who was accused of money laundering, the collegiate bench found insufficient evidence and acquitted him. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150707

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