TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Faculty and students from a Kaohsiung university were charged with bribery and other offenses on Monday (Sept. 16) after an investigation uncovered evidence that professors had accepted bribes to award academic qualifications.

Kaohsiung prosecutors said two professors, surnamed Wang (王) and Tang (唐), along with six postgraduate students at an unnamed Kaohsiung university, were charged, according to CNA. The professors allegedly received NT$420,000 (US$13,174) from the students in exchange for organizing third parties to write their examination papers.

Prosecutors said that one of the students was awarded a doctorate, while the others received master’s degrees based on fraudulent exam results. When the case was made public in July, it was reportedly the first time in Taiwan that a master’s degree had been awarded in violation of academic ethics.

In addition, prosecutors allege that Tang used his position to pursue a sexual relationship with a doctoral student under his supervision in 2015. They have recommended the court impose a harsher sentence on him than on the others due to this misconduct.

The investigation began when prosecutors noticed financial irregularities while probing a separate case. They concluded their investigation on Sept. 9 and filed charges related to bribery and the falsification of official documents.