National Defense University (NDU) professor Ke Ming-te (葛明德) was released on bail of NT$50,000 yesterday, after being questioned a day earlier over suspected fraud and potential illegal links to China.
The Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office also questioned nine others on Wednesday, either as suspects or witnesses, as part of the investigation, following searches at Ke’s residence and NDU’s Chung Cheng Institute of Technology.
Ke was allegedly secretly collaborating with China through his company, Dexnano Chemicals Technology Co, prosecutors said, adding that they believe he set up the company with his son, Ke Yi-fan (葛翊凡).
Photo: Taipei Times
The investigation is focused on potential fraud related to research funding and the extent of Ke Ming-te’s collaboration with China remains unclear.
In 2023, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi (林靜儀), then a Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker, at the legislature said that NDU’s Systems Engineering Research Center conducts critical precision systems research for Taiwan, with Ke Ming-te overseeing technology integration and industry needs.
Ke Ming-te was “secretly” using his son as a front to establish Dexnano Chemicals Technology Co, she said, adding that he had collaborated with China on technology while running the company’s board for more than a decade.
Since 1997, Ke Ming-te had been involved in 117 projects, as part of the National Science and Technology Council and its forerunners, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Science Council, Lin said.
Those included sensitive research projects, such as advanced systems engineering, firearm parts, stealth paint and naval electromagnetic weapons, she said.
Ke Ming-te’s dealings with China “could involve a potential leak of sensitive information” and the illegal transfer of research patents, Lin added.
The Ministry of National Defense, which has been working with the Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office on the case, referred the case to law enforcement authorities.
NDU in a statement on Wednesday said that the university would continue to fully cooperate with the investigation.
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