Tzu Chi Foundation Defrauded of Over NT$10 Billion in Vaccine Procurement Scam

The Tzu Chi Foundation was victimised by a fraud scheme that siphoned more than NT$10 billion (approximately US$300 million) from a procurement of BNT COVID‑19 vaccine doses. Prosecutors in Taichung identified a criminal group led by a lawyer surnamed Chen, a former chairman of the Changhua Bar Association, which pretended to have a channel for buying the vaccine and extracted the money as commission.

The investigation resulted in the indictment of 17 suspects, the seizure of cash, gold, high‑value vehicles and other assets totalling over NT$10 billion, and the confiscation of the alleged proceeds. The Tzu Chi Foundation issued a statement confirming its cooperation with judicial authorities, thanking investigators, and noting that any criminal proceeds will be returned to the charity. The foundation also reiterated that its vaccine purchase followed strict principles of fund‑use transparency, price reasonableness, and public‑sector oversight, and that the 5 million doses procured were intended for donation to the government.