Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) has been reprimanded by Premier Yu Shyi-kun for his negligence in accepting massages from unlicensed masseuses.
The Cabinet's ethics department yesterday released an investigative report which indicated Yu Cheng-hsien's accepting of massage from sighted masseuses was flawed, but did not involve any sex trade practices or improper profit exchanges. The premier ratified the report by reprimanding Yu Cheng-hsien and demanding that something like this not happen again.
PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
"As the director managing the country's welfare businesses for disadvantaged groups, Yu Cheng-hsien's using sighted masseuses was indeed flawed. Yu Cheng-hsien should be admonished to be more discreet in his future conduct during private social functions and no similar incidences should occur again," Yu Shyi-kun said after reading the report.
The interior minister's accepting of massages was widely criticized because laws regulating massages states that only blind people can get licenses to perform massages.
Yu Cheng-hsien had previously acknowledged that the women who tended to him were not licensed to perform massages and he apologized for not following regulations.
The investigation report cleared Yu Cheng-hsien of accepting illegal bribes or benefits from interests groups, as the businessmen with whom Yu went to the massage parlor with did not have business relations with his ministry.
"Yu Cheng-hsien and his companions took turns treating each other and the massage fees were paid in this way. Tung Chiung-hsiung (
Cabinet's Spokesperson Lin Chia-lung (
"Since Yu Cheng-hsien's accepting of massage services did not involve sexual services or benefit exchanges, there is no question of whether Yu Cheng-hsien should resign or not," Lin said.
Lin quoted the premiere as saying that "it is against the administrative regulations for government officials, whether they are elected or appointed, to accept treats in private clubs. Public officials should have a higher standard of conduct than common people."
Lin said the Premier had personally admonished Yu Cheng-hsien to be more prudent in his conduct and also instructed him to keep pushing for the MOI's administration.
In response to the report, Yu Cheng-hsien said "I respected the investigation results. But I want to reiterate that as a government official, I have never done anything illegal or accepted illegal treats from interest groups.
"I would like to apologize again for [my negligence] affecting the rights of visually-impaired people, and [from now on] will further the promotion of the rights of blind people. After this incident, I will be more prudent in my conduct," Yu said.
The interior minister has been the target of a number of accusations since taking up the post in February last year.
Earlier this year, he was accused of misusing a police car to pick up his children from elementary school.
Most seriously, he was accused of involvement in the Zanadau scandal when he was Kaohsiung County commissioner after a former colleague of his was arrested late last year.
The legislative caucus leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Lee Chia-chin (
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