The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office this morning released Lin Yueh-lung (林岳龍) on bail of NT$100,000 and barred him from traveling abroad over alleged involvement in a Chinese espionage case.
Lin served as assistant to several Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators, including Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇), Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) and Lin Chien-chi (林倩綺).
Photo: Taipei Times
His most recent post was as a part-time social media manager for KMT Taipei City Councilor Wang Hsin-yi (王欣儀), and as a spokesperson for the KMT's Taipei chapter.
Codefendants Wang Kai-min (王凱民), former aide to KMT Keelung City Councilor Lan Min-hui (藍敏輝), and Kuo Wen-pin (郭文彬), former senior executive officer in the Presidential Office under then-president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), were released without bail.
Lin is suspected of having been recruited by Chinese authorities several years ago.
Prosecutors said he allegedly received payments and provided confidential and sensitive information to the Chinese Communist Party.
The case is being investigated as a possible breach of the National Security Act (國家安全法).
Prosecutors added that the investigation has also implicated Wang Kai-min and Kuo in the case.
Prosecutors yesterday conducted raids at seven locations, including the residences of Lin Yueh-lung and offices of Wang Hsin-yi and Lan.
They also summoned Lin Yueh-lung, Wang Kai-min and Kuo for questioning.
Wang Hsin-yi released a statement last night pledging full cooperation with the investigation to protect national security.
The statement added that Lin Yueh-lung was hired as a part-time social media manager in January and does not work in the councilor's office.
Also last night, Lin Yueh-lung's former legislative employers issued statements expressing support for prosecutors' lawful investigation into suspected criminal behavior.
Lin Chien-chi said that Lin Yueh-lung did not handle any secret or confidential information during his employment in her office.
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