[Life] Taiwan's First Academic Ethics Corruption Case: Two Professors from National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology Sentenced to 7 Years and 5 Years 2 Months

Professors Wang and Tang from National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology are suspected of accepting bribes to help several students obtain master's and doctoral theses and degree examinations. The Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office has indicted the involved professors and students. Today (the 15th), the Qiaotou District Court sentenced Mr. Wang to 7 years and Mr. Tang to 5 years and 2 months for corruption and other crimes, both with deprivation of civil rights for 2 years. The Qiaotou District Court announced the verdict this afternoon. Professors Wang and Tang were each sentenced to 7 years and 5 years and 2 months imprisonment for violating the Anti-Corruption Act, both with deprivation of civil rights for 2 years. Among them, student Zheng was sentenced to 7 months imprisonment and 3 years probation for delivering bribes, while the other 5 students were sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and 2 years probation. The case can be appealed. The case originated when the Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office, while investigating other cases, noticed irregularities in some financial flows. The investigation revealed that professors Wang and Tang from National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology allegedly accepted NT$100,000 to NT$400,000 to assist several students in obtaining master's and doctoral theses and to help them pass degree examinations to obtain their degrees. The Qiaotou District Prosecutors Office, along with the Southern Region Investigation Group of the Agency Against Corruption and the Kaohsiung City Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Agency, executed searches and summoned the involved individuals. After interrogation, it was determined that Mr. Wang, Mr. Tang, and student Zheng were heavily suspected of violating the Anti-Corruption Act and had grounds and necessity for detention, leading to their request for detention by the court. The other 5 students, surnamed Liu, Chen, Jiang, Ye, and Cai, were each granted bail of NT$100,000 after interrogation. The Qiaotou District Court considered that both Mr. Wang and Mr. Tang confessed to their crimes, and Mr. Wang's mobile phone and other items, as well as bank account information, had been searched and seized by investigators. The court ruled to grant Mr. Wang bail of NT$200,000 and Mr. Tang bail of NT$100,000, with restrictions on leaving the country, exiting the sea, and residence, prohibiting contact and communication with individuals related to the case. Student Zheng was granted bail of NT$50,000. After the investigation concluded, the involved professors and students were indicted on charges of corruption, bribery, and delivering bribes. It is understood that this is the first case in Taiwan involving violations of academic ethics in master's and doctoral degree programs that has been prosecuted on charges of corruption. (Editor: Liao Yiting)