A non-affiliated legislative candidate, Ma Zhiwei, has become the focus of attention due to allegations of accepting funds from mainland China (including USDT) and providing political information. The case has entered the court stage, and the Taoyuan District Court has begun to clarify the truth of the matter.
(
The first legislative candidate in Taiwan suspected of receiving Chinese funds in USDT was detained.
)
Table of Contents
Toggle
Receiving Funds with Cryptocurrency, Delivering Information to China
Only “Partial Admission” Questioned by the Court
Why Accept Chinese Sponsorship?
Defense Lawyer: Civil Friendship
According to reports, Ma Zhiwei is accused of accepting over one million New Taiwan Dollars in funding (part of which was paid in cryptocurrency, 19,322 USDT) and providing Taiwan’s political information to mainland China, allegedly violating the National Security Law. Under the accusation of the Taoyuan District Prosecutor’s Office, Ms. Ma has admitted in court to receiving the funds and providing a contact list for the parliament, although she argued that these lists were not confidential documents.
Advertisement – Scroll to continue reading
When facing questioning from the judge, Ma Zhiwei took a partial admission and partial denial attitude. Regarding the part of providing political information, she claimed that what she provided was only public information. However, after the judge presented a page in the contact list marked “For official use only, strictly prohibited from being reproduced,” she could not refute it.
Ma Zhiwei also detailed her contact with Chinese individuals, including several key figures she met while on a business trip representing a police publication: nicknamed “Ice Sister” and “Ah Hao.” She admitted to taking photos of the “111th Year of the Republic of China September Central Government Parliament Contact List” and sending it to mainland China through the DingTalk software, a product under the Alibaba Group.
Ma Zhiwei further explained the background of receiving funding, including the economic pressure during the election period. She emphasized that although she did not know the true identity of the other party and the specific use of the funding, she accepted the funding due to their longstanding relationship in an unknown situation.
Ma Zhiwei’s defense lawyer pointed out that the client’s relationship with Chinese individuals is only a civil friendship and questioned the prosecution’s failure to provide sufficient evidence to prove that “Ice Sister” and others are personnel from mainland intelligence units. At the same time, the defense also questioned the prosecution’s accusation that the parliament contact list is not a confidential document.
The Taoyuan District Court has announced that the next hearing will take place on May 3, where further details of the case will be examined. This case not only involves the personal career of a political figure but also touches upon the sensitive political relationship between Taiwan and mainland China, attracting high attention from the public.
(
Five Cases of Cryptocurrency Bribery in Elections! Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice Prosecutor “Zhonghua Smoke” Likens it to Concealment, Intelligent Contract Bribery in the 2024 Election may Arise
)
USDT
National Security Law
Tether
Ma Zhiwei
Further Reading
Investigation Bureau’s second wave of anti-fraud investigation seizes nearly 60 million New Taiwan Dollars, fake currency dealer becomes a money laundering channel for fraud rings
US Department of Justice and FBI seize 1.4 million US dollars in USDT fraud case, Tether provides crucial assistance.