Chunghwa Post yesterday apologized for a large cache of undelivered mail found in Hualien’s Chingshui Cliffs (清水斷崖), adding that those who are responsible for the incident would be punished.
The site is one of many famous scenic spots in Taroko National Park, which has a constant flow of tourists. The abandoned mail was found after a netizen launched a campaign to clean up the garbage under the cliff. Volunteers used rope access techniques and recovered more than 300kg of garbage, including the unsent mail.
Hualien Post Office manager Chiang Ching-ta (江進達) yesterday said that the mailman responsible for the route, surnamed Ho (侯), has been with the Chunghwa Post for more than 20 years, having been in his current position in Hualien for about 10 years.
Most of the undelivered mail was advertisements, such as farmers’ almanacs sent before the Nov. 29 nine-in-one elections last year and newsletters published by the government.
Asked why such an experienced employee would risk his job by throwing away the mail, Chiang said Ho did not provide a definitive answer.
The postal company issued a statement apologizing to all people affected by this incident, adding that it has ordered the post office in Hualien to perform a further investigation into the incident and asked all post offices nationwide to investigate if similar incidents have happened in other areas.
Department of Mail Business and Operations secretary Chen Ching-hsiang (陳敬祥) said the mailman could face several punishments.
“He has violated Article 38 of the Postal Act (郵政法), which states that opening or concealing mail belonging to others, or looking into the contents by any means without proper cause shall be punished by detention of up to two months or a maximum fine of NT$90,000 [US$2,858],” Chen said. “He might be handed over to the Prosecutors’ Office following an investigation by the Office of Government Ethics.”
Chen said Ho might receive a demerit or be let go based on employment guidelines for transport industry workers.
Based on Article 315 of the Criminal Code, a person who opens or conceals a sealed letter document belonging to another individual without reason shall be sentenced to short-term imprisonment or a fine of up to NT$3,000.
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