The primary school principal accused of being treated by businesspeople to hostess bars and having affairs with bar girls denied the allegations yesterday.
"I admit that I have violated the discipline [for public officials] and I now apologize to the public," said Principal Lo Jung-chih (
He said he went to dance halls about 20 times a year.
Taipei City Councilor Chung Hsiao-ping (
Chung also said that Lo's salary did not enable him to afford the expense of dance halls and hostess bars. He said he had evidence that Lo was treated to dancing and drinking by busi-nesspeople from two construction firms and asked the city government to investigate whether the two firms have contracts with Lo's school.
The Ethics Department of the Taipei City Government interviewed Lo yesterday morning, but declined to comment on the case.
The Civil Servant Services Act (
An ethics department official said, however, that there was no rule specifying whether public officials going to dance halls or bars that have hostesses is prohibited.
"[Whether or how a public official would be punished for such behavior] all depends on the situation," said an ethics department official.
Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday set a five-day deadline for the ethics department to complete an investigation into the matter.
If any corruption was uncovered, the department will file a case in court.
At yesterday's press conference, Lo also denied Chung's allegation that he had an affair with a hostess and even gave her his bankbook for safekeeping.
Lo's wife was present at the press conference to defend her husband. She said the councilors and the press had brought harm to innocent people and the primary school.
"It's like he's convicted even before [the allegations] are properly investigated," she said.
Councilor Chung struck back after Lo's conference. He said Lo was still trying to cover up his misconduct and this left him no choice but to reveal further evidence on the matter.
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