Huang Chu-jung sentenced to 10 years for attempting to recruit two individuals for mainland China organization

(CNA, Taipei, July 9) Huang Chu-jung, a former assistant to a Green Party legislator, was accused of receiving funds from mainland Chinese intelligence agents to recruit two individuals to develop an organization. The High Court today ruled that the recruitment of Chiu Shih-yuan was completed, while the recruitment of Ho Jen-chieh was an attempt. The court found the prosecution's request for a 12-year sentence excessive and sentenced Huang Chu-jung to 10 years in prison for violating the National Security Act. The verdict is appealable.

The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office stated in its indictment that Huang Chu-jung, a former assistant to a Green Party legislator, received funding from mainland Chinese intelligence agents and intended to recruit Chiu Shih-yuan, a DPP party worker, and Ho Jen-chieh, a former advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to expand the organization's usable human resources. He was indicted for developing an organization in violation of the National Security Act, and the prosecution requested a sentence of 12 years or more, with the confiscation of approximately NT$6.08 million in illicit gains.

After trial, the Taiwan High Court determined that in Chiu Shih-yuan's case, Chiu had testified about Huang Chu-jung's recruitment process into the organization. Evidence included communication records between the two and a compiled list of files from encrypted communication software used by Huang Chu-jung with individuals in mainland China. Chiu Shih-yuan also provided his mother-in-law's mainland bank account for receiving remuneration.

Regarding Ho Jen-chieh, the High Court found that the compiled list of files from encrypted communication software on Huang Chu-jung's phone indicated that individuals in mainland China were urgently pressing Huang Chu-jung for diplomatic information. Witness Chiu Shih-yuan also testified that Huang Chu-jung had asked him to arrange a meeting with Ho Jen-chieh and had taken photos of Huang Chu-jung and Ho Jen-chieh, intending to create the impression that they were close.

The collegiate bench believed that Huang Chu-jung indeed intended to recruit and win over Ho Jen-chieh to join the organization and obtain diplomatic information. However, there was no evidence to prove that Ho Jen-chieh had agreed to join, nor was there evidence that Ho Jen-chieh had provided any diplomatic data to Huang Chu-jung as requested.

The High Court, considering that Huang Chu-jung disregarded national security and social stability for personal gain, cooperated with mainland Chinese intelligence agents to recruit Chiu Shih-yuan and Ho Jen-chieh in Taiwan to develop an organization for mainland China. Chiu Shih-yuan had indeed provided information about the then-Vice President's overseas trip to Huang Chu-jung for transfer to mainland Chinese intelligence agents, thereby posing a certain degree of danger to national security. The court sentenced him to 10 years in prison for developing an organization for mainland China in violation of Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the National Security Act.

The High Court stated that Huang Chu-jung received a total of NT$4,977,500 in remuneration from mainland Chinese intelligence agents. After deducting NT$870,000 that was ordered to be confiscated in another case involving violations of the National Security Act, the remaining amount of NT$4,107,500 is to be confiscated. The case is appealable.

In a separate case, Huang Chu-jung was accused of violating the National Security Act. The first instance court sentenced him to 10 years, and the second instance court reduced the sentence to 6 years in June this year. (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) 1150709

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