A Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) officer was arrested yesterday on suspicion that he was conspiring with gangsters in running underground banks.
Taipei prosecutors and agents from the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau raided officer Lin Chao-wen’s (林朝文) office at the CIB and his residence in New Taipei City’s (新北市) Banciao District (板橋).
PREVIOUS ACTIVITY
The CIB said Lin was a criminal investigation officer, but because he was found to have been in contact with gangsters running illegal private banks five years ago, he was transferred to the CIB’s recording unit.
Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office spokesman Wang Wen-te (王文德) said Lin was arrested on suspicion of conspiring in an illegal underground bank operation run by suspected gangster Lee Chia-cheng (李家正), who was ordered detained yesterday.
At press time, Lin was being questioned by prosecutors.
INSIDER SCOOP
While investigating an illegal underground bank allegedly involving Lee, the CIB discovered that Lee had access to information pertaining to the investigation, which suggested he was being briefed by an insider, Wang said.
PHONE TAPPING
After monitoring Lee’s cellphone conversations for a period, the CIB and prosecutors determined that Lin was often in touch with Lee and appeared to be the source of the leaked information, Wang said.
DEBTORS
Lin was also suspected of using his job to access personal information about people who owed money to Lee and might have shared that information with the suspected gangsters for debt collection, Wang said.
Underground private banks are notorious for using violence when collecting debt, Wang said, with some debtors getting seriously injured by gangsters.
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