"Taiwan’s Bill addresses trafficking after Cambodia incidents", 28 April 2023

The Taiwanese legislature’s Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee have approved the first reading of amendments that would increase penalties for attempts to recruit people to commit crimes abroad, after a scheme that lured jobseekers to Cambodia received significant media coverage ....

The proposed changes of the Organized Crime Prevention Act, drafted by the Executive Yuan, stipulate fines of up to NT$20 million ($651,254) and prison terms of up to seven years, while stipulating higher penalties when the people targeted are underage.

The amendments were drafted after investigators found that a trafficking ring had lured Taiwanese to Cambodia by promising them high-paying jobs, but forced them to participate in telecommunications fraud, while subjecting them to sexual exploitation…

Alleged members of the Four Seas Gang and the Bamboo Union Gang who are suspected of involvement in human trafficking to Cambodia are escorted by Criminal Investigation Bureau officials …

The amendments would also bar people convicted of organized crime charges from running for public office.

… The amendments stipulate higher penalties for public servants found guilty of involvement in organized crime, including financing and recruitment for crime rings.

Under the amendments, public servants found guilty of such offenses might have their assets confiscated and illicit profits seized

Amendments to the Money Laundering Control Act were also discussed …, but failed to gain support. Debate on the proposal is to continue.

… Minister of Justice Tsai Ching-hsiang offered to raise the maximum fine to NT$50 million, but remove a clause stipulating separate fines “if three people or more have jointly committed the crime.”