Taiwanese labor activists protested for better treatment of foreign workers yesterday as prosecutors continued with their investigation of allegations that former legislator Elmer Fung (
Gathering outside the Council for Labor Affairs, a group of labor activists said that the country's foreign labor policies had caused the maid's predicament.
The Taiwan International Workers' Association on Sunday accused Fung of sexually assaulting the maid, identified only by her first name, Rose, and sending her back to the Philippines to keep her quiet after paying her NT$800,000 (US$24,150).
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
At yesterday's protest, members of the association held up signs that read: "No More `Rose' Story" and "Don't let another Rose suffer sexual harassment."
The association's chairwoman, Chen Su-hsiang (
"If a domestic worker suffers harassment or even rape in a family, she will often stay and persevere out of fear that she will be deported on the pretext of having disobeyed her employer," Chen said.
Fung told reporters on Monday that Rose had made up the allegations because she was seeking revenge against his wife, who had complained about her work and had reprimanded her. He also said that he couldn't have raped the woman because he was at home with his family when the crime allegedly occurred on Jan. 23.
Fung said that he did pay her the NT$800,000, but insisted that this was her annual salary and layoff pay.
His wife and daughter also denied that they had been trying to buy Rose's silence.
Chen said yesterday that she had evidence that the payment was hush money, but she was not willing to give more details. The group has said that if Fung were unhappy with the maid's work, he could have dismissed her without having to pay the unusually large sum of money.
Shihlin prosecutors said yesterday that they might ask Fung to take a polygraph test regarding his alleged involvement in the case.
"We will do it when necessary," said Wang Jen-kuei (
Wang said that a DNA match-up of Rose and Fung had been completed, but could not make the results public because of a gag order.
He said the prosecutors' office was planning to issue a summons to Rose, but, since she has returned to the Philippines, she could be forced to come back to Taiwan.
Fung yesterday invited reporters to his Shihlin residence, explaining that it would have been impossible for him to rape his housekeeper.
He said the walls of the rooms in his house were all made from plywood, which is not very noise-proof. Fung said that his daughter's room is next to the room that used to belong to Rose.
He added that he had been playing mahjong with his family on Jan. 24, when the rape allegedly took place, and never left his seat all night long.
"Do you think a couple won't be discovered if they have sex in a room like this? Under these circumstances, how can it be possible that I would do such a thing?" Fung asked.
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