Former Taiwan Sugar Chairman Wu Nai-jen Ordered Arrested Over NT$170 Million Debt

A Taipei court has issued an arrest warrant for Wu Nai-jen, former chairman of the state-owned Taiwan Sugar Corporation, ordering him to appear to settle a debt of NT$170 million (approximately $5.2 million USD).

Wu, a prominent figure in Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, was convicted of breach of trust for facilitating a land deal that resulted in a NT$250 million loss for Taiwan Sugar. He received a nine-month prison sentence, which he completed in January 2015. The civil judgment requires him to compensate the company for the financial damages incurred.

The court's action comes after previous attempts to recover the funds. In December 2024, the court seized NT$17 million of Wu's assets, and Taiwan Sugar has since recovered over NT$7 million through compulsory enforcement. Further legal requests were filed in late 2024 and early 2025 to enforce the judgment. The arrest warrant was issued under the Compulsory Enforcement Act, citing Wu's failure to appear without valid reason and the risk of flight.

This case has also drawn public attention due to past accusations by Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang, who questioned Wu's lifestyle after his release from prison. The current warrant mandates that Wu be brought before the Taipei District Court for identification before being transferred to the Taichung District Court, where the original case was handled.