Taipei prosecutors have charged 62 people and 13 companies, seizing over $170 million in assets tied to Prince Group, a Cambodian conglomerate accused of orchestrating large-scale online fraud. The action, announced Wednesday, marks a significant expansion of international efforts against the alleged criminal enterprise.
The three main defendants in Taiwan’s case include Chen Zhi, the group’s chairman, who was extradited from Cambodia to China earlier this year. The charges allege involvement in organized crime, money laundering, document forgery, and profiting from illegal gambling.
Hu Xiaowei, identified as a senior figure in the group, faces additional counts of serious money laundering. Reports indicate he uses multiple aliases, one of which is subject to U.S. sanctions. His legal team did not comment on the indictment.
In a separate development, Singaporean authorities announced Tuesday they had arrested three nationals previously linked to Prince Group on charges of serious crime and corruption. The Singapore Police Force also seized three properties, eight vehicles, cash, and luxury goods worth over $270 million, bringing total frozen assets globally to more than $390 million.
These actions follow sanctions imposed by the U.S., U.K., and South Korea, as well as China’s call for suspects to surrender by February 15 for leniency. The Treasury Department had previously labeled Prince Group a “transnational criminal organization” over its alleged involvement in online fraud and human trafficking.
The Republic of China’s Ministry of Justice confirmed that multiple Taiwanese citizens are among those indicted for aiding the group’s operations. Meanwhile, a Montenegro court has temporarily halted the extradition of another figure linked to the network, citing human rights concerns.