Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) Legislator Liao Pen-yen (廖本煙) offered a public apology yesterday for any negative impact a media report alleging that he had committed a sexual offense might have had on his party.
"I apologize for any negative impact brought about by a disturbance I was involved in because of my poor drinking capacity," Liao said at a news conference.
But he denied sexually attacking the alleged victim, a middle-aged married woman who told a magazine about the alleged sexual assault.
The alleged victim, surnamed Wang, accused Liao of sexually assaulting her on Sept. 20 last year after a dinner party in a private club.
Liao yesterday vehemently denied being involved in the alleged crime.
"I did not make any improper sexual advances toward Ms Wang. I did not rape her. I look forward to seeing prosecutors investigating the allegation and carrying out a semen analysis to clear up the matter," he said.
Liao was convinced that "a semen analysis would prove my innocence."
The TSU whip made the remarks two days after the magazine disclosed the alleged offense.
He refuted the accusation from the outset, but declined to have a semen analysis done.
"I played down the proposed analysis in the beginning, since I had no interest in responding to the accusation," Liao said.
He said that he changed his mind to prove to the public that he had been framed.
Prosecutors at the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office had been watching developments in the dispute. A judicial investigation would kick off if prosecutors feel they had to look into the case, or if any party involved in the controversy files for an investigation, said Chen Hung-ta (陳宏達), a spokesman for the prosecutors' office.
The TSU headquarters still waited for a possible legal ruling before considering disciplinary measures against Liao. But leaders of the TSU legislative caucus announced yesterday that all TSU lawmakers had been banned from visiting any private clubs.
"The TSU decided on the ban after seeing Liao's case jeopardizing his own public image as well as that of the party. The party leaders decided that TSU lawmakers should not visit these kind of clubs even though they are registered legally," said another TSU Legislator, Cheng Cheng-lung (
Two of Liao's colleagues, legislators Chien Lin Whei-jun (錢林慧君) and Chen Chien-ming (陳建銘), urged Liao to quit drinking after the alleged scandal came to light on Tuesday.
"He sometimes drank too much and needed other people's help to take him home," Chien Lin said.
But Legislator Su Yin-kuei (蘇盈貴) said that Su had indulged in drinking binges even during official trips abroad.
Su, a former TSU member, told reporters that Liao was dead drunk during an overseas visit with other TSU comrades a few years ago.
The TSU denied the allegations.
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