More than 1,000 civil servants nationwide have been found illegally doubling as managers and board members of private companies, an investigation by the National Audit Office and the Ministry of Civil Service said.
Control Yuan President Chang Po-ya (張博雅) said that the Control Yuan would only look into the more severe infractions or higher-level civil servants, which include all normal offices of the 10th pay-grade and above, adding that each of those infractions would be investigated thoroughly.
Despite the Civil Servant Services Act (公務員服務法) calling for the dismissal of all civil servants who break the law, Chang said that practicality takes precedence, as the dismissal of more than 1,000 civil servants from government agencies nationwide would have too great an impact on daily operations.
The severity of the infractions are to be taken into account when deciding whether a civil servant is given a demerit or dismissed from service, Chang added.
Civil servants from local governments comprise the majority of violators and only a few work in the central government, Chang said, adding that New Taipei City, with more than 700 infractions, of which 300 involve educators, has the greatest number of civil servants breaking the law.
National Audit Office spokesperson Lee Shun-pao (李順保) said that officials in the ninth pay grade or lower would be handed over to the Public Functionary Disciplinary Sanction Commission for review.
The investigation process would take some time, Lee said, adding that tax history of violators must be looked into, while janitors and technicians should be given a chance to explain their actions.
When asked how the Control Yuan would handle the situation, Chang said that all actions would be in accordance with the law, adding that important distinctions would be made.
If violators were listed as board members of family-owned companies, but are unaware of the matter, it is possible they would receive a lighter punishment, Chang said, adding that violators who knowingly broke the law for profit would be more severely punished.
Separately, sources from the Control Yuan said that most cases passed to the commission in the future would be recommended for demerits, with only the most severe cases calling for dismissal, adding that standing penalties for civil servants doubling as a company managers are too severe.
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