New taipei city: Prosecutors have indicted 10 firefighters and four individuals from three funeral service firms in New Taipei City for allegedly collaborating to leak sensitive information regarding emergency medical and death cases, receiving bribes amounting to nearly NT$1.28 million (US$40,586).
According to Focus Taiwan, the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office announced that these 14 individuals have been charged with violating the Anti-Corruption Act and other criminal statutes related to confidentiality breaches. The funeral service companies reportedly paid the firefighters to alert them about emergency medical calls and deaths, allowing these firms to arrive at scenes before their competitors and secure business.
In one incident, a man surnamed and head of Wan Rui Funeral Services became acquainted with a firefighter surnamed Chen from the Taishan unit of the Fire Department’s Second Brigade. From September 2021 to April 2022, Chen allegedly provided information during his duty hours in exchange for payments. Chen later introduced another firefighter, surnamed Chang from the Xinzhuang unit, to the scheme, expanding the network within the Second Brigade.
Another case involved Ren Xiang Funeral Services, which allegedly created a LINE chat group called “Ding Ding Dang” to receive alerts from Chen concerning emergency medical and death cases. Other firefighters joined this group through referrals and received payments for sharing information. From 2022 to 2024, Ren Xiang reportedly paid the firefighters approximately NT$415,000.
In a separate incident, Ju Yang International Humanistic Co. was implicated when a man surnamed Shen, the company’s head, was introduced by his father to a firefighter surnamed Tsai at the Fire Department’s dispatch and command center. Shen and Tsai allegedly agreed that Tsai would send patient locations without a pulse, using messaging apps or Google Forms, receiving NT$5,000 to NT$10,000 per case. Between July 2022 and 2024, Tsai allegedly earned NT$695,000.
The investigation concluded on Dec. 16, with prosecutors determining that a total of NT$1.279 million in bribes had been received by the 10 firefighters. Several firefighters admitted their wrongdoing and voluntarily returned their illicit gains, leading prosecutors to recommend reduced sentences. The involved funeral service companies and individuals have also been indicted under the Anti-Corruption Act.