Taipei: A total of 18 people were indicted on Thursday for allegedly profiting by over NT$300 million (US$9.10 million) from dumping used cooking oil and other types of waste, without following legally required disposal procedures. The suspects included a business owner surnamed Tsai, who won various contracts from 2010 to 2023 to dispose of waste oil for department stores, hotels, and food court restaurants in hospitals.
According to Focus Taiwan, Tsai subcontracted the work to several unlicensed operators, including two brothers identified by their last name Hung, and individuals surnamed Pan and Tung. Considering the substantial profits, Tung, Pan, and the Hung brothers separately took on other contracts during different time periods.
Prosecutors cited the Hungs as an example, stating the brothers profited by roughly NT$140 million from contracts with local businesses such as Formosa Chang, Noble Family Steak House, Hsin Ya International Hotels, and ATT 4 Fun shopping mall since 2016. Instead of legal disposal, they dumped the waste oil into roadside gutters, with those businesses allegedly aware that the Hungs lacked a valid waste disposal management license.
Tung allegedly profited by about NT$24.44 million by dumping 2,856 metric tons of waste for a marble company and construction site from 2014 to 2023, and another NT$1.78 million from toxic liquid waste produced from electrolytic cells.
The Shilin District Prosecutors Office stated that the investigation into Tsai and other suspects took over a year, beginning in November 2023. The 18 suspects were indicted for suspected contraventions of the Waste Disposal Act and offenses of concealment under the Criminal Code. Due to the severity of their crime, prosecutors requested a harsh punishment from the court.
Formosa Chang has issued a statement apologizing to the public and stated it would humbly accept the court's ruling. As of press time, Noble Family Steak House, Hsin Ya International Hotels, and ATT 4 Fun had not responded to requests for comment on the matter.