Japanese photographers specializing in hidden photography have secretly, and without the consent of their subjects, taken photographs of female passengers at Taipei's MRT stations that have later appeared on pornographic Japanese Web sites, a Taipei City councilor alleged yesterday.
"The photos, mostly of female passengers' upper bodies and views up their skirts, are posted on Japanese pornographic Web sites for the public to view and download," said Yeh Hsin-yih (
He displayed copies of the photographs which he said he had printed out from the Web sites, to which he had been referred by his supporters.
"As far as we can tell, none of the female passengers pictured was aware that they had been photographed by a hidden camera," Yeh said, "since most of the photographed individuals had their backs turned to the camera.
"It is beyond doubt that these photographs were taken at Taipei MRT stations," he added, "because road signs and direction markers in the background bear the names of Taipei City landmarks and MRT stations, such as the Shinkong Mitsukoshi Department Store and the Mucha line."
Some of the photographs shown by Yeh pictured individuals wearing Taipei City Chingmei High School uniforms and Neihu High School bags.
"It is most likely," Yeh said, "that these pictures were taken near escalators and in the carriages using hidden cameras installed in suitcases which focused on female passengers wearing skirts.
"Such secret photography is common on public transport in Japan, but now they have decided to do it in Taiwan," Yeh said, calling on the city's police force to take measures to deal with "these perverts."
Chen Chiang (
"We have been working every week to detect [hidden cameras] in the restrooms of MRT stations since last June," Chen said. "But we've found nothing.
"However, for the purpose of prevention, especially with regard to wireless hidden cameras, we will carry out the detection work twice a week starting immediately."
Chen Ming-cheng (陳銘政), a section head in Taipei Municipal Police Department's MRT police force, said that the police installed devices designed to detect hidden pinhole cameras in all female restrooms on the network last April.
"Aside from tightening our patrols of MRT stations," Chen Ming-cheng said, "we will also ask the MRT company to buy additional detection devices to help us strengthen the protection of female passengers."
Meanwhile, Chen Ming-cheng called on all passengers, especially females, to be vigilant.
"They [passengers] mustn't hesitate to report to us as soon as they come across any individual behaving suspiciously or constantly pointing a suitcase at them," said Chen.
Liu Chung-chih (劉崇智), a section head in the Criminal Investigation Department of Taipei Municipal Police Department, added that individuals could be sentenced to up to three years in prison if convicted of acts involving secret photography.
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