The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office yesterday said that prosecutors have started investigations into whether Shihlin Judge Chen Li-fan (陳麗芬) prematurely escorted her husband from a police station after his arrest for drunk driving.
"We hold video tapes and cassettes that contain pictures and audio taken at the police station, and will try to figure out what was going on," said Chen Hung-ta (
Chen said that Chen Li-fan will be charged with interference with public functions if police find she removed her husband, lawyer Sun Ming-si (
Sun was arrested for an offense against public safety by the Taipei City Police's Ta-an Precinct around 1am on Thursday morning. However, he denied drunk driving allegations and refused to sign any documents.
According to the precinct, at 3am, officers asked Sun to call a family member to pick him up from the police station and told him he would be released if prosecutors gave permission.
The police said that in addition to issuing a ticket, in drunk-driving incidents they fax a detailed report to the local prosecutors' office and ask the duty prosecutor if the offender should be transferred to the prosecutors' office for further interrogation or detention. If the duty prosecutor does not return the fax or call back to the police station with an answer within two hours, the police will release the offender.
Chen Li-fan arrived at the station around 4am. The police said that she immediately showed her credentials and asked to review her husband's file record. Police refused the request because she was not involved in the case.
Chen then left the station with her husband. Officers at the scene said they were shocked but that nobody attempted to stop the couple from leaving.
When questioned by reporters, Chen said that she did not threaten the police and that the allegations against her were exaggerated.
She said that she asked police if she could see her husband's file record to make sure everything on it was clear and accurate and that she did not restate her demands after her request was refused.
According to Chen, since the police refused to talk to her, she tried to have them transfer the case to the prosecutors' office to give her the opportunity to talk with prosecutors. However, duty police officers asked her to stop arguing and leave, at which point the couple left the building.
"The only reason I showed them my credentials was to let them know that I am also a judicial officer, I know what my rights are and I know what I am doing. That was all," Chen said.
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