Taipei: The Taiwan High Court has reduced the sentences for former National Security Bureau (NSB), Presidential Office, and China Airlines (CAL) personnel involved in a cigarette smuggling scandal from 2019. The decision, announced on Wednesday, offers a reprieve for the individuals previously found guilty of misusing public power for personal gain.

According to Focus Taiwan, the suspects, led by former NSB security agent Wu Tsung-hsien, had originally faced harsher sentences under corruption charges as ruled by the Taipei District Court in June 2021. The new ruling adjusts these charges to lesser offenses, with Wu's sentence decreased to six years from the initial 10 years and four months. Former NSB agent Chang Heng-chia also saw his sentence reduced to two years and four months.

In addition, the court found three of the four indicted CAL employees, including former CAL vice president Chiu Chang-hsin, guilty of aiding the crime. These individuals received lighter sentences and conditional probation under Article 30 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of China. The case remains open for further appeals.

The scandal traces back to July 2019 during a trip by then-President Tsai Ing-wen to the United States and the Caribbean. Wu, part of Tsai's security detail, pre-ordered 9,200 cartons of cigarettes from CAL's online duty-free store, far exceeding the legal limit of one carton per traveler. Despite knowing this, Chiu and other CAL staff facilitated the storage of the cigarettes in an airport warehouse for later delivery.

Upon Tsai's return to Taiwan on July 22, customs officers, acting on a tip-off, intercepted government vehicles attempting to leave Taoyuan International Airport with the contraband. The bust revealed a tax evasion scheme valued at nearly NT$8.19 million (US$265,552).

Subsequent investigations led the Taipei District Prosecutors Office to indict 13 individuals, including nine NSB and Presidential Office officials and four CAL employees, on charges of corruption and tax evasion.