Former HTC exec charged with leaking insider information and fraud
As if HTC’s problems weren’t already bad enough, HTC’s former vice president and lead designer Thomas Chien has been convicted of disclosing company secrets to his future business partners, along with raking in over $1 million USD through fraud.
This all began last September, when the Taipei District Court arrested several high-ranking HTC officials on suspicion of embezzlement and the selling of insider trade secrets. Those arrested included HTC research director Wu Chien-hung, senior engineer Huang Hung-yi, and senior manager Huang Kuo-ching.
Hung-yi and Kuo-ching were released on bail, and almost everyone involved except for Chien admitted their involvement with the scandal.
Chien is said to have presented future HTC software designs to people who were to become his future business partners, with the intention to start a new company that would directly compete with HTC. Some speculate that the individuals involved might also have had ties with the Chinese government.
Concerning the fraud allegations, the HTC execs in question apparently made false expense claims and rebates from a supplier. A quarter of that money was found in his Audi, with another quarter confiscated earlier.
[Engadget]
