TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Prosecutors at the Shilin District Prosecutors Office (士林地檢署), a major district court in northern Taiwan, indicted two former Academia Sinica (中央研究院) researchers Thursday (Sept. 4) for allegedly defrauding over NT$34.8 million (around US$1.14 million). Officials demanded severe penalties against the individuals, identified by their surnames Chang and Chi, who played key roles in this high-profile fraud case. The case has shocked Taiwan's prestigious academic community.
The Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica (中央研究院物理研究所), Taiwan's premier research institution, clarified that the implicated Chang and Chi were not full-time researchers but former contract employees and visiting scholars. The institute emphasized that the title "researcher" refers only to full-time faculty members, distinguishing them from the accused individuals. This clarification aims to protect the institution's reputation amid the fraud scandal.
Academia Sinica's Institute of Physics has fully cooperated with the investigation, expressing regret over the involvement of its former personnel in the fraud scheme. The institute stated that they deeply regret what had happened and will implement necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. This response reflects the institution's commitment to maintaining academic integrity and public trust. ◼
