Taipei: Prosecutors said Thursday they have recovered more than NT$195 million (US$6.18 million) in criminal proceeds linked to a corruption case involving a former National Security Bureau (NSB) official that was closed because the statute of limitations expired.
According to Focus Taiwan, Liu Kuan-chun, formerly a colonel in the military, was accused of embezzling NSB funds earmarked for various projects between 1994 and 2000. In a news release, the Shilin District Prosecutors' Office stated Liu was suspected of misappropriating public property in violation of the Anti-Corruption Act, an offense punishable by life imprisonment or a prison term of more than 10 years.
Under Taiwan's statute of limitations for corruption cases, the prosecution period is 20 years, extended by five years because Liu became a wanted fugitive when he went on the run. Prosecutors indicated that the limitations period began on May 22, 2000, the date of Liu's last alleged offense, and expired on Aug. 14, 2025, meaning they could no longer pursue criminal charges against him.
However, prosecutors said that after the Shilin District Court approved a request in April 2022 to separately confiscate Liu's assets under amended provisions of the Criminal Code, authorities have since recovered a total of NT$195.56 million in cash, stock-related proceeds, and confiscated real estate. The case against Liu was concluded on May 7, prosecutors said, although he remains wanted on espionage charges and is believed to have fled to China.