The Ministry of Justice yesterday asked the three Kaohsiung prosecutors who allegedly attended a party hosted by drug dealers to take a temporary leave of absence until an investigation into the incident is completed.
Minister of Justice Chen Ding-nan (
Around 9am yesterday, Chen wrote a personal note outlining this decision, passed it to Tsai Pi-yu (
However, around noon, Chen changed his mind and ordered that Chin, Liu and Wang be asked to take temporarily leaves of absence instead.
The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office confirmed that the three prosecutors all asked for a three days' leave, to start today. Their requests were approved by Prosecutor-General Chu Nan (朱楠).
Speaking on behalf of Chen, Vice Minister of Justice Hsieh Wen-ting (
"For law enforcement officers, the most important thing is reputation and belief in justice," said Hsieh. "Their behavior has seriously damaged their credibility as prosecutors and I think it's necessary [to take a leave of absence]."
Hsieh did not say whether the ministry will ask the three prosecutors to extend their leave of absence when the three days are up.
"I hope that investigators can wrap up their investigation within three days," he said.
A Chinese-language newspaper reported on Thursday that Chin, Liu and Wang had allegedly attended a party hosted by drug dealers at a Kaohsiung hostess club on June 27 last year.
Ministry regulations forbid law enforcement officers from "attending inappropriate activities," including visiting hostess bars and parties hosted by criminals. The Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office said yesterday that the trio had said they were invited to the party by friends and were not aware that it was to be held at a hostess club or it was being hosted by drug dealers.
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