Officer convicted of drug possession

The use of informants is widely accepted among police who attempt to track down organized crimes, and drug dealers in particular.

Liu Cheng-wu (劉承武), a public prosecutor who used to work closely with Chen, pointed out yesterday that a clear line must be drawn on use of informants by police.

"Drug rings use amazingly advanced equipment. In comparison, we investigators have few resources," Liu said. "Use of informants, though disputable, is absolutely essential to crime investigations. To reduce the risks of the practice, the authorities concerned should map out rules of game as soon as possible."