Shocking BNT Vaccine Procurement Scandal! Tzu Chi Foundation Defrauded of Over $1 Billion by Lawyers; Prosecutors Seize Cash, Luxury Cars, and Mansions

On August 6, the Investigation Bureau revealed that during the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when vaccines were in short supply, lawyer Chen Yu-hsuan and vaccine broker Li falsely claimed to have the ability and channels to procure BNT vaccines. Despite knowing that Shanghai Fosun’s BNT vaccine procurement had already been negotiated and allocated in terms of quantity and price by procurement teams from Hon Hai (Foxconn) and TSMC, they lied to the Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, claiming that Li was a major shareholder of Shanghai Fosun and that 'Hon Hai and TSMC obtained vaccines through Li’s assistance' and 'TSMC paid millions of dollars in legal fees for vaccine procurement.' Using these false statements, they deceived Tzu Chi into believing they could assist in purchasing BNT vaccines.

Chen and others demanded that Tzu Chi pay a high 'consultancy fee' comparable to what Hon Hai and TSMC had paid. Eager to secure BNT vaccines quickly, Tzu Chi staff mistakenly believed Chen and his associates had the capability to procure the vaccines and transferred NT$1.061981295 billion to Yu-Da Enterprise Management Consulting Company, registered under Chen’s name.

Prosecutors Huang Yu-feng, Lin Szu-ping, and Weng Chia-lung from the Taichung District Prosecutors Office jointly directed the Investigation Bureau to conduct two rounds of searches on April 30 and May 20, 2026, targeting 32 locations including Chen’s residence. Chen and others were brought in for questioning, and evidence such as mobile phones, ledgers, and bank accounts were seized. Additionally, cash amounting to NT$93.0811 million, 158 kilograms and 800.125 grams of gold (valued at NT$659.179319 million), two luxury vehicles including a Mercedes-Benz, bank deposits, and luxury real estate were confiscated. The total seized assets exceeded NT$1 billion, fully covering the defrauded amount.

The Investigation Bureau emphasized that Tzu Chi Foundation, Hon Hai Group, and TSMC had actively sought to procure vaccines for public welfare and social回馈 during the pandemic. Chen and Li took advantage of this goodwill to fraudulently obtain a massive sum, severely disrupting social order and harming public interests. The case represents a serious and malicious crime, and the bureau pledged to continue cracking down on all forms of criminal activity to protect national and societal interests and public rights.