Abalone Tycoon Flees to China, Sparking Police Probe; Two Deputy Chiefs Not Indicted

A high-profile businessman, known as the "abalone tycoon" and former head of "Lianyi Abalone," has fled to China after being sentenced to over 30 years in prison for stock manipulation. Chung Wen-chih, also responsible for Mortanley Investment Co., was convicted of manipulating Taiwan Depositary Receipts (TDRs).

His escape has sent ripples through Taiwan's judicial and police circles, leading to investigations and disciplinary actions. Two judges were impeached or received written warnings, and six police officers in Taipei were investigated for leaking information and providing cover. Two of these officers were initially detained.

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The "abalone tycoon" Chung Wen-chih fled to China after his conviction.

Investigators discovered that deputy precinct chiefs Ku Chih-ming and Liang Ssu-chiang of the Fude Street Police Station in Taipei's Xinyi Precinct, along with officer Li Chun-liang, allegedly colluded to falsify 95 check-in records. This was reportedly done to help Chung evade his mandatory reporting duties.

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Deputy precinct chiefs Ku Chih-ming and Liang Ssu-chiang, along with officer Li Chun-liang, allegedly colluded to falsify 95 check-in records.

Further investigation revealed that Li Chun-liang's assets increased by millions under suspicious circumstances. Under his alleged assistance, Chung was able to forge the check-in records. While Li was indicted in April with an 8-year prison sentence sought, and his wife is also facing charges for unexplained wealth, Chung's alleged accomplices Ku and Liang were not indicted. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office determined there was insufficient evidence to charge them with crimes like forging public documents or benefiting corrupt officials, leading to their non-indictment.

Despite the lack of indictment for the deputy chiefs, the Xinyi Precinct had already removed the three deputy chiefs from their positions and reassigned them. The investigation also implicated a high-ranking police official and another officer for leaking information, with one receiving bail and the other being detained.

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The Taipei District Prosecutors Office determined there was insufficient evidence to charge them with crimes like forging public documents or benefiting corrupt officials.