‘LENIENT’ SENTENCE:The former National Chengchi University student denied any involvement in espionage, saying he was coerced into making a false confession
Taipei Times
Date: Sep 16, 2017
By: Jason Pan / Staff reporter
The Taipei District Court yesterday convicted Chinese national Zhou Hongxu (周泓旭)
Chinese national Zhou Hongxu stands outside the Taipei District Court yesterday after being sentenced to 14 months in prison for espionage and attempting to bribe a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official. Photo: CNA
of violating the National Security Act (國家安全法), handing him a 14-month prison sentence.
It was the first ruling on the case and Zhou can still appeal.
The judges found him guilty of spying for China and trying to entice Taiwanese government officials to give classified material for financial rewards.
In particular, prosecutors said that Zhou had offered US$10,000 to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official to pass on classified government materials.
The judges gave Zhou what was considered a lenient sentence of 14 months, considering that “he had initially confessed to the crime” and that “he did not succeed in his espionage efforts.” [FULL STORY]
