The Taichung District Prosecutors’ Office indicted 7 people under the Banking Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, with illegal funds totaling 3.64 billion yuan.

The Taichung District Prosecutors Office (Taichung District Prosecutors Office) officially indicted Hong Yue-peng, the person in charge of Wanshi Development Company, and six branch managers of Taichung Bank on April 23, for a total of seven individuals. The alleged offenses include violations of the Bank Act (aggravated breach of trust), the Anti–Money Laundering Act (offense of large-amount money laundering), and related offenses under the Organized Crime Prevention Act. According to the indictment documents cited by United News Network from the Taichung District Prosecutors Office, the case involves illicit funds totaling NT$36.4 billion.

Indictment Background and Structure of Those Involved

According to the indictment documents of the Taichung District Prosecutors Office, Hong Yue-peng, the person in charge of Wanshi Development Company, is alleged to have conspired with supervisors of four branches of Taichung Bank, namely the branches in Tanzi, Beitun, Zhongzheng, and Toufen, to assist a fraud and online gambling group in laundering money. The period of the crime was from September 2024 to April 2025.

The Indictment Offenses Include: violations of the Bank Act aggravated breach of trust, the Anti–Money Laundering Act large-amount money laundering, and related offenses under the Organized Crime Prevention Act.

Alleged Criminal Methods: systematically evading anti–money laundering mechanisms

According to the indictment documents of the Taichung District Prosecutors Office, the involved bank supervisors are alleged to have used the following methods to help conceal illicit funds:

· Open financial accounts under the names of 12 shell account holders with no actual business operations (including Jia○ Industrial Firm, etc.)

· When opening accounts, fail to retain account-opening image photos as required by regulations

· Intentionally raise the large transfer limits for accounts of each business entity

· When “front person” accounts trigger suspicious money laundering notification reports, deliberately delay reporting abnormalities to competent authorities

· After completing reporting, still fail to carry out legally mandated preventive measures such as suspending, restricting, or terminating remittances of the accounts

These methods enabled illicit proceeds to be transferred quickly through intensive online banking transfers, concealing the source and destination of the funds.

Seizure of Assets and Results of Judicial Disposition for Each Defendant

According to a report by Mirror Media, after the months-long evidence collection and investigation by the Aviation Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Bureau under the Ministry of Justice, searches were carried out in three phases at sites related to Wanshi Development Company and Taichung Bank. Seized were deposits, real estate, stocks, and vehicles belonging to the individuals involved, totaling more than NT$3.6B.

After the Taichung District Prosecutors Office completed interrogation, the judicial disposition results for each defendant are as follows:

Hong Yue-peng (Person in charge of Wanshi Development): detention on remand denied; request for detention granted

Manager Zhang (Tanzi Branch): detention on remand denied; request for detention granted

Manager Zhuang (Toufen Branch): detention on remand denied; request for detention granted

Manager Huang (Zhongzheng Branch): released on bail in the amount of NT$10 million

Manager Yao (Beitun Branch): released on bail in the amount of NT$6 million

Deputy Manager Su (Beitun Branch): released on bail in the amount of NT$500k

Deputy Manager Chen (Zhongzheng Branch): no bail required; returned

According to the major news disclosure announcement issued by Taichung Bank on April 1, 2026, the bank stated that it had cooperated with the Criminal Investigation Bureau’s search and interrogation procedures, and emphasized that this case has no impact on the company’s overall finances and business operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the official indictment date for this case, and how many defendants are there?

According to the official indictment documents of the Taichung District Prosecutors Office, the case was officially indicted on April 23, 2026, with a total of seven defendants, including Hong Yue-peng, the person in charge of Wanshi Development Company, and six supervisors and deputy managers from four branches of Taichung Bank.

What are the total amount of illicit funds involved in the case and the amount seized, respectively?

According to the United News Network citing the indictment documents from the Taichung District Prosecutors Office, the total amount of illicit funds involved amounts to NT$40M. The Criminal Investigation Bureau seized assets totaling more than NT$269.10 million belonging to the individuals involved, covering deposits, real estate, stocks, and vehicles.

Has Taichung Bank issued an official announcement regarding this case?

According to the major news disclosure issued by Taichung Bank on April 1, 2026, the bank has announced its cooperation with the Criminal Investigation Bureau’s search and interrogation procedures and stated that this case has no impact on the company’s overall finances and business operations.