Kaohsiung Woman Sentenced to 1 Year, 8 Months for Role in NT$3.9 Million Fraud Scheme

A woman from Kaohsiung has been sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in prison and ordered to pay NT$3.9 million in damages for her role in a sophisticated investment scam. The woman, identified as Huang, joined a fraud group led by Hong and Ye in 2024.

Operating as a money launderer, Huang's task involved facilitating the fraudulent transfers. To gain the victim's trust, she transferred NT$1,000 to the victim's account, making the investment scheme appear legitimate. Believing the promises of high returns from a fake investment app called 'Liyi,' the victim, identified as Zhong, subsequently transferred funds multiple times.

Between July and August 2024, Zhong made six transfers totaling NT$3.9 million through bank transfers and in-person meetings. After realizing she had been scammed, Zhong reported the incident to the police, leading to Huang's arrest. Huang confessed to her involvement in the crime.

The court found Huang guilty of fraud involving three or more individuals. The judge noted that her actions not only harmed Zhong's property rights but also created financial trails that hindered law enforcement's ability to track criminal activities and recover the stolen funds. This significantly disrupted social order and financial integrity.

In a related civil lawsuit, Huang did not appear in court and did not appoint a legal representative. The court considered her absence as an admission of guilt and ruled that she must compensate Zhong the full NT$3.9 million lost. The verdict can be appealed.