Taiwanese Colonel's Career Derails: Guilty Plea in Expense Report Fraud Case

A Taiwanese Army Colonel Admits to Fraud, Facing Legal Consequences

A colonel in the Taiwanese Army's military intelligence unit, identified as Wu, has admitted to charges of defrauding the government. The accusations involve fraudulent expense reports and claims related to travel and meals, leading to a guilty plea in court.

The case, brought forth by the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, alleges that Colonel Wu, while serving as head of the military intelligence unit within the Army Command, submitted inflated expense reports. The charges include false claims for travel expenses and meal reimbursements.

The 52-year-old Colonel Wu, who had previously served as a liaison officer for the Ministry of National Defense in the United States, returned to Taiwan six years ago. During his tenure as the unit head, from August 2019 to the end of his service (2 years and 10 months), Colonel Wu reportedly instructed subordinates to process and approve 12 fraudulent travel expense reports, despite not having undertaken official travel.

The aim was to cover transportation costs and illegally obtain the total amount of 19,977 NTD. The Defense Ministry now faces significant implications.

During the initial court hearing, the Colonel fully confessed to all charges. The prosecution has requested increased penalties under military law. The defense counsel has requested leniency, citing the defendant's position.