Taiwan Executive Jailed for Illegal Surrogacy Business and Embezzlement

Wang Wei-de, the head of Sunshine Biomedical Consulting Co., has been sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison for illegally mediating artificial reproduction services in Taiwan. The company, which partnered with a U.S. agency, facilitated services including sperm and egg donation and surrogacy for clients seeking assisted reproduction.

The court found Wang guilty of multiple charges, including failure to pay capital contributions, violating the Artificial Reproduction Law, and business embezzlement. The scheme involved inflating the company's registered capital by temporarily transferring funds to the company account for verification purposes, only to return the money afterward. This method was used to establish Sunshine Biomedical Consulting Co.

Beyond the illegal mediation of reproductive services, the court also uncovered financial misconduct. Sunshine Biomedical Consulting Co. received approximately $41,222.68 in commissions from its U.S. partner between October 2023 and August 2024. These funds were deposited into Wang Wei-de's personal account. Despite an investment agreement stipulating profit distribution based on shareholding, Wang allegedly misappropriated $7,420 of the company's earnings, failing to distribute Chen's share.

Huang Qi-feng, who was involved in the company's operations, was also convicted. He received a 6-month sentence, also eligible for a fine, for illegally brokering reproductive cells. Huang had claimed he was merely a lender to Wang, but the court, based on communication records, meeting content, and witness testimonies, determined he was a co-operator involved in managing the company's finances and operations, particularly concerning egg donation services.