Taiwan celebrities Darren Wang (Wang Talu), Chen Lingjiu and mastermind Chen Zhiming are among 28 individuals charged with military service evasion by the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office.
According to the indictment, Chen Zhiming and three accomplices began orchestrating the scheme in 2016. They reportedly coached 24 conscription-eligible men, including Chen Lingjiu, on methods to manipulate blood pressure results by holding their breath or arranged for stand-ins to undergo medical exams on their behalf. These tactics resulted in fraudulent diagnoses of severe hypertension, which allowed them to avoid mandatory military service.
The indictment further revealed that Darren Wang, due to his frequent absence from Taiwan, handed over his ID card and health insurance card to Chen Zhiming. Chen's accomplices later used these documents to impersonate Wang during a medical appointment in October of last year. After Chen Zhiming was detained in January this year, Wang applied for replacements of his lost ID and health insurance card in February, which prosecutors allege constitutes an additional charge of falsifying public records.
As part of the scheme, Wang reportedly paid Chen Zhiming NT$3.6 million, while the other individuals involved paid sums ranging from NT$50,000 to NT$500,000.
Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of at least five years for Chen Zhiming, citing his role as the ringleader. For Darren Wang, Chen Lingjiu, and the other 24 defendants, prosecutors have recommended appropriate penalties, noting their admission of guilt.
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