A former hospital superintendent was released on NT$2 million (US$71,700) bail Thursday after being questioned over his alleged collaboration with a travel agency in a sex-trafficking case.
Li Wei-cheng (???), a well-known oncologist who previously headed Chung Shan Hospital in Taipei, was summoned for questioning by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office and later released on bail.
Li and the other four people questioned over the case Thursday were set free on bail rather than detained because the crimes they are suspected of were not serious enough to warrant them being taken into custody.
Two people still employed by the hospital, deputy superintendent Li Shih-ming (???) and a staff member surnamed Chen (?), were released on NT$2 million and NT$100,000 bail, respectively, and two employees of the travel agency were each released on NT$300,000 bail.
None of them commented on the case as they left the prosecutors office.
The involvement of the hospital and travel agency were uncovered during an investigation by the National Immigration Agency’s (NIA’s) Tainan Specialized Operation Brigade and the Investigation Bureau’s Tainan Field Division into a sex-trafficking case related to Chinese women.
They discovered that the women were granted a permit to enter Taiwan to get a complete medical checkup, based on a receipt from Chung Shan Hospital showing pre-payment for the treatment.
Chinese citizens who wish to get a physical examination or cosmetic surgery in Taiwan have to obtain a receipt of not less than NT$20,000 from a medical center or NT$15,000 from a non-medical center showing pre-payment for their treatment before coming to Taiwan, according to the NIA.
But the women never did get the examination, and prosecutors later found that Li Wei-cheng colluded with a travel agency to issue fake receipts for at least 10 Chinese people, enabling them to apply for entry into Taiwan between 2016 to 2019.
They said the former superintendent made money from the operation, but did not say how much.
Prosecutors suspect Li violated Article 215 of the Criminal Code for producing a document or certificate in his professional role that he knew to be false. If indicted, he could face a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine of NT$15,000.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel