A senior Taoyuan police officer was ensnared in a public prosecutor’s probe earlier this week, when investigators uncovered a large number of criminal investigation files and case report documents in the police officer’s residence.
The police officer, Peng Chun-hua (彭俊華), was under suspicion of having close links to a local figure engaged in the sand-and-gravel excavation business suspected of dumping hazardous waste.
Peng was charged with misappropriating public property and violating provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act (貪汙治罪條例) and was released on posting NT$200,000 bail on Wednesday.
Peng, 41, is a 20-year veteran of the police force, mainly in the Taoyuan area, and had worked as a detective sergeant in criminal investigation units. He was most recently posted at the Dayuan District Police Station’s Special Assignment Brigade.
His alleged illegal private storage of police files, case reports and other judicial documents was uncovered by Taoyuan District Prosecutors’ Office investigators when they were conducting a probe into hazardous waste dumping and other illegal practices by a sand-and-gravel excavation company.
Investigators and police officers found Peng was living in a second-floor apartment over a gas station owned by the sand-and-gravel excavation company boss.
During the raid they uncovered several stashes of police files, case reports and other documents relating to more than 100 cases in his apartment.
In addition to the police files, investigators said they also found ketamine, urinalysis samples and case evidence, along with firearms primer and gunpowder.
Peng said he had taken the items home because they related to cases he was working on. However, prosecutors suspected Peng of impeding official police investigation into certain cases to shield suspects.
The Taoyuan Police Department said police are now investigating past cases handled by Peng, to determine whether he had interfered with judicial process and clarify whether he had any close links with the sand-and-gravel company boss.
A urinalysis test is to be administered on Peng to determine if he had taken ketamine, the police said.
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