TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwanese actor Darren Wang (王大陸) pleaded guilty Tuesday (Nov. 18) to document forgery charges for attempting to avoid military conscription. Wang apologized and bowed in court to express remorse for his actions.
New Taipei District Court (新北地方法院) summoned Wang to a hearing Tuesday over document forgery allegations. Wang faces up to one year imprisonment for allegedly paying NT$3.6 million (around US$116,129) to co-defendant Chen Chih-ming (陳志明). The payment allegedly helped Wang dodge military service through fake medical appointment identification.
Chen serves as the alleged mastermind among 28 individuals first charged in June for military service evasion. Prosecutors indicted 12 additional people Nov. 14 in the expanding investigation. Chen's imprisonment prevented Wang from completing his conscription evasion plan, but courts still charged Wang under forgery laws.
Wang detailed his payment process to Chen using cash and wire transfers during court testimony. Inconsistencies between Wang's and Chen's payment accounts prompted the judge to request Wang return as witness. Wang's lawyer argued his February identification document reissuance application aimed for military enlistment, not evasion.
