Qianhai patrol officer receives 18,000 Tether coins and is accused of espionage, selling secrets at a low price, sentenced to 7 years in August

Qianhai Coast Guard member received 18,522 USDT in exchange for leaking information to China; Kaohsiung High Branch Court sentences him to 7 years and 8 months in August.
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On the 6th, Kaohsiung High Branch Court sentenced a national security leak case: Coast Guard officer Li from the Southern Mobile Coast Guard Unit was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months for providing defense deployment information to Chinese intelligence personnel, under the National Security Law. He did not accept traditional cash bribes but used Tether USDT for settlement.

18,522 USDT as spy remuneration

According to court investigations, Li was in debt due to investment losses and was targeted by a Chinese intelligence agent named Tony at the end of 2022. The other party offered a clear compensation plan: transferring about NT$60,000 worth of USDT each quarter, with annual bonuses and subsidies for an iPhone 11 and iPhone 13 as work devices.

Within a year, Li filmed and transmitted sensitive data via Telegram, including missile alert zone operations, mission ship deployments, and patrol plans, earning a total of 18,522 USDT, equivalent to less than NT$580,000.

Causing National Security Crisis

The court ruling stated that although Li returned all criminal proceeds and pleaded guilty, he sold national and official secrets for nearly 1 year and 10 months, endangering national security and undermining the morale of citizens defending freedom and democratic values… Li was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months in prison, with the right to appeal.