Taipei: U.S. server maker Supermicro on Thursday denied reports that its Taiwan office was raided by authorities, stating that it is cooperating with an ongoing Taiwanese investigation into the alleged illegal diversion of AI servers equipped with advanced Nvidia chips.
According to Focus Taiwan, in a statement issued by Chief Revenue Officer Matt Thauberger, the company confirmed that Taiwanese authorities have stated Supermicro "is not a target of this investigation" and that it has been collaborating with investigators for several months. Thauberger emphasized that "Supermicro's offices in Taiwan were not raided by any government authorities," and noted that recent events reflect the company's ongoing collaboration with Taiwanese authorities.
Four Supermicro Taiwan employees were detained for questioning on Monday in connection with the investigation into the company's sale of products to a Taiwanese technology company. Supermicro facilitated this process by providing access to the employees' desks and electronic devices. Two employees remain in detention pending further legal proceedings, while the other two have been released on bail.
Supermicro has placed all four employees on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation, emphasizing its "zero tolerance" for legal violations or breaches of internal policies. The company noted that while the investigation is ongoing and it lacks full visibility into the case, its ability to serve customers remains unaffected.
Thauberger reassured stakeholders that the team remains focused on delivering high-performance, reliable datacenter infrastructure solutions and pioneering innovations. He affirmed Supermicro's commitment to protecting U.S. interests and safeguarding advanced technologies and intellectual property, while continuing to work with authorities, external advisers, and stakeholders to prevent the illicit diversion of sensitive technologies.
The statement followed the Keelung District Prosecutors Office's second round of searches on June 29 at Supermicro's Taiwan Asia-Pacific headquarters, Albatron Technology Co., and Chief Telecom Inc. The investigation involves the alleged illegal resale of AI servers equipped with export-controlled Nvidia chips to China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Prosecutors questioned six individuals, including four Supermicro employees, Albatron Chief Executive Officer Lu Yang-kai, and a Chief Telecom employee. Following questioning, prosecutors sought the detention of Lu and two Supermicro employees on suspicion of document forgery and breach of trust. A court approved the detentions, while two other Supermicro employees were released on bail.
The investigation originated from a case uncovered in May, where prosecutors alleged that three suspects used false export declarations to ship dozens of Supermicro AI servers to a third country before rerouting some to Hong Kong, violating U.S. export controls. Authorities seized 50 AI servers and more than NT$9 million (US$282,145) in cash during the initial searches. The investigation is ongoing.