A 60-year-old farmer in Pingtung County was hailed as a hero after it was revealed that he was a key figure in the exposure of the recent edible oil scandal in Taiwan.
The Chinese-language Apple Daily reported on Sunday that the farmer, who declined to be named, spent two years gathering evidence on his own to expose the alleged wrongdoings of the factory operated by Kuo Lieh-cheng (郭烈成) that produced the questionable oil, after officials in the southern county failed to take his complaints seriously.
The farmer and his neighbors, whose farmland has reportedly been polluted by Kuo’s factory, described the factory’s questionable practices to the Pingtung County Environmental Protection Bureau five times, but to no avail.
He then took the initiative, the Apple Daily report said.
He bought cameras and surveillance equipment and gathered evidence for two years before sharing his findings with police in Greater Taichung, the report said.
The Taichung Police Department confirmed on Sunday that the farmer reported the factory to the department in November last year through a friend who is acquainted with a member of the department, providing photographs and video clips that he took.
The department said it then forwarded the case to the Pingtung District Prosecutors’ Office, which led the investigation that eventually exposed the nationwide recycled waste oil scandal.
The scandal has centered on Greater Kaohsiung-based Chang Guann Co, which was found to have bought oil from Kuo that was extracted from putrid kitchen waste and other substandard ingredients.
Kuo’s oils were used to make 782 tonnes of its Chuan Tung brand cooking oil, which was distributed to more than 1,200 food processors and restaurants around Taiwan. The discovery forced the recall of numerous food products from snacks and instant noodles to traditional Chinese cakes.
Lin Ya-wen (林雅文), director of the Pingtung County Government’s Environmental Protection Bureau, confirmed on Sunday that his bureau received five telephone complaints about Kuo’s factory between 2011 and last year.
However, aside from the calls, it did not receive any photos or other documents, or it would have acted differently, Lin said.
Yu Tung-pi (余東璧), an inspector with the bureau, said bureau inspectors did examine Kuo’s factory, but did not find any violations and were restricted by their limited authority under the law.
Inspectors could not force Kuo to show his license or tell them where he sold his oil, and could only fine him NT$1,200 and NT$3,000 for residual oil in ditches, he said.
Yu said the case was resolved after six months of investigation by prosecutors.
Lin said he has asked to be disciplined by Pingtung County Commissioner Tsao Chi-hung (曹啟鴻), while Yu has asked to be transferred to another post.
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