Taiwanese prosecutors initiated a probe into a 21-year veteran of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) who retired in July, for allegedly sharing confidential chip production documents with US-based Intel, Central News Agency reported.

Lo Wei-jen, previously TSMC’s SVP for corporate strategy development, allegedly transferred data on the contract chipmaker’s 2nm process when he re-joined Intel in October, the Taiwan-based news service stated.

He worked for Intel before moving to TSMC in 2004.

Local media reported Lo left TSMC with more than 80 boxes of documents, which raised suspicions.

TSMC plans to take legal action depending on the outcome of the investigation.

In August, the company fired several staff and started legal action after they allegedly attempted to access confidential 2nm development and production data.

It is barred from exporting 7nm and more advanced chips to customers in China.

The contract chipmaker is a major supplier for Apple and Nvidia and plans to start mass production later this year using its most advanced 2nm process technology.