Alleged gangster indicted for spying for China

ROC Central News Agency

2014/01/02 22:00:02

Taipei, Jan. 2 (CNA) Prosecutors in the southern city of Tainan have brought up charges against an alleged gang leader who they say gathered confidential information for China and tried to recruit Taiwanese servicemen as spies.

The Tainan District Prosecutors Office said Thursday that Lee Shih-te, 66, headed a charity group that was allegedly a front for a criminal organization.

He was allegedly hired by a Chinese intelligence agent in 2007 to buy a book on Taiwanese intelligence authored by retired officials from Taiwan's National Security Bureau. Since the book dealt with sensitive information, it was listed as confidential, and Lee was unable to buy it, prosecutors said.

He has also been charged with attempting to arrange a meeting between active Taiwanese servicemen and Chinese intelligence agents, even asking his own son, a military officer, to help solicit information about military mobilization.

Though unsuccessful, Lee's moves attracted attention from prosecutors and investigators.

Thursday's charges of violating the National Security Act are the culmination of nearly two years of investigation, the prosecutors office said.

(By Yang Sz-ruei and Y.L. Kao)
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