Retired major general Yang Wen-chen (楊文鎮) yesterday was found guilty of groping and of sexual harassment in a case involving a non-commissioned officer (NCO) and sentenced to 14 months in prison by the Taiwan High Court.
However, the verdict allowed Yang, 55, to avoid jail by paying a fine of NT$420,000, angering legal critics who called the verdict too lenient, as Yang abused his authority to bully and sexually assault his subordinates.
Critics said Yang also showed no remorse for his actions, as during his trial he rejected claims that his behavior constituted sexual harassment, saying that the NCO — a woman in her 20s — consented by willingly pressing her body close to him during the incidents.
Yang served at the Armed Forces Reserve Command Headquarters before his indictment, but was forced to retire after the case came to light.
Investigators said they had evidence and testimony to indicate that Yang assaulted and sexually harassed the noncommissioned officer four times, from August to November 2012.
Prosecutors said Yang used his position to ask subordinates to make reports at his office.
While she was in his office, Yang groped the NCO’s body, grabbing her breasts and buttocks, put her in a bear hug to kiss her and touched her genitals, prosecutors said.
Under cross-examination, Yang rejected the sexual harassment charges, saying: “As for hugging and kissing her, it was in the chivalric spirit of the Knights of the Round Table... I was following the proper etiquette, as a way of giving encouragement to my subordinates.”
On this, he received a sharp riposte from the chief prosecutor, who asked: “If this was so, would you treat your son and daughter the same way?”
During investigation, the NCO passed a lie-detector test, while Yang refused to take a test.
Yesterday’s sentencing can be appealed by prosecutors, while Yang cannot appeal the court’s verdict.
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