Taipei: The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office has announced the indictment of three additional suspects in a significant case involving the leak of sensitive military information. This case revolves around former television producer Lee Neng-chien, who is at the center of espionage-related charges.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lee was initially indicted in April for allegedly leaking personal data of intelligence agents and crucial military information to Chinese intelligence operatives during 2024 and 2025. The latest developments in the case have brought to light the involvement of Hung Chia-pei, Chen Wei-shuo, and Cheng Chao-an, who have now been charged for their participation in this clandestine operation.
Prosecutors have accused Hung of attempting to sell a comprehensive database containing personal information to Chinese intelligence for monetary gain. The indictment reveals that Hung acquired this dataset in March 2025, which included names, birth months, national identification numbers, job positions, and contact details of numerous Taiwanese citizens. Utilizing specific keywords, Hung extracted 3,674 records, notably containing intelligence personnel's information, with the intention of passing it to Lee for subsequent transmission to Chinese operatives. The transaction, however, reportedly collapsed due to disagreements over payment.
In addition, Chen and Cheng face charges for aiding Lee in gathering personal data on military personnel in April 2024. Prosecutors have outlined how Lee directed Chen to collect data on active-duty military members. To accomplish this, Chen enlisted the help of Cheng, who used his connections from the loan business to identify individuals with military ties, compiling their data into a file. This file was then forwarded to Lee's associate by Chen in exchange for NT$5,000 (US$151).
Hung has been further charged with violating the National Security Act, the Intelligence Services Act, and the Personal Data Protection Act. Despite Hung's denials and attempts to justify his actions, prosecutors have recommended a prison sentence exceeding seven years and six months for him. Meanwhile, Chen and Cheng have been indicted for violations of the Personal Data Protection Act, although no prison terms have been suggested for them.
The case underscores the serious implications of data breaches on national security. Lee's involvement with Chinese intelligence, including operatives code-named "Small Blue" and "Fuzhou Hotspring," highlights the complex web of espionage activities targeting Taiwan's military information. Lee and four other suspects were initially indicted in April, facing multiple charges related to national security and data protection.