TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected final appeals by three retired Military Intelligence Bureau officers convicted of spying for China.

Former colonel Chang Chao-jan (張超然) received a prison term of 18 months, retired major general Yueh Chih-chung (岳志忠) was sentenced to 10 months, and former colonel Chou Tien-tzu (周天慈) was sentenced to 14 months. A fourth defendant, ex-colonel Wang Ta-wang (王大旺), was found not guilty.

The ruling upheld prison terms handed down by the Taipei District Court and later affirmed by the Taiwan High Court, per Liberty Times. Chang reportedly traveled to China in 1999 to help a former military intelligence officer who was under house arrest, but instead began working as a spy for Beijing.

He later recruited other retired officers, arranging free trips to China that included payments, hotel stays, and duty-free items. In exchange for personal background information on active-duty colleagues, they also received gifts such as tea, currency, and smartphones.

Prosecutors charged the suspects with violating the National Security Act by forming a spy organization and the National Intelligence Work Act by leaking secrets.