In 2021, fishing boat Shunfa No. 866 was caught smuggling 154 breed cats, and all of them were euthanized later, shocking Taiwan. The Kaohsiung District Court concluded that the six people involved in the case were sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment from August to one year in August. Lin Zhenglong, a pet breeder, was suspended for 4 years for confessing to the crime.
The verdict pointed out that because Lin Zhenglong confessed to the crime and cooperated in the investigation process, the judge announced that his sentence was suspended for 4 years and he should pay 300,000 yuan to the state treasury. 180 hours of compulsory labor are required during the protection period.
On August 19, 2021, when the Shunfa 866 fishing boat returned to Taiwan from Penghu carrying the breed cat, it was intercepted by the Coast Guard off the coast of Anping, Tainan, and this smuggling case was exposed. After the fishing boat returned to Kaohsiung Port, 154 cats of noble breed were found in the secret compartment of the boat.
Among the six criminals, Zhang Fangyi is a retired officer from the Coast Guard, who conspired with Zheng Changjia and Lin Zhenglong, who are wholesalers of aquatic products, to smuggle. Zheng Changjia is the sponsor and rents “Shunfa No. 886” for 150,000 per month. Zhang Yin is familiar with the sea patrol route and is responsible for planning the smuggling route; Guo Minhao is in charge of refitting the fishing boat, setting up a secret cabin, and installing air-conditioning to facilitate the smuggling of breed cats.
In order to avoid detection, Shunfa No. 886 went to Keelung Zhengbin Fishing Port to put a lot of fish and ice as a cover before going to sea. The captain surnamed Lin alleged during the investigation. I know that there is no refrigeration equipment on board, and the catch and ice are for cover. “Zhang Fangyi also taught me that if caught, the catch should be sold to the mainland.”
The Kaohsiung District trial found that Zhang Fangyi, Zheng Changjia, Guo Minhao and others who led the whole case were sentenced to one year in February to one year in August for the crime of smuggling and importing controlled items, and Zhang Fangyi was sentenced to the heaviest sentence. Lin Zhenglong was sentenced to 1 year and 4 months in prison, but his sentence can be suspended for 4 years. The captain surnamed Lin and the chief engineer surnamed Gao were imprisoned in October and August, suspended for 2 years, because of their relatively minor involvement in the case. The entire case is subject to appeal.
