Taichung transport official Chang Ying-tang (張應當) has been dismissed with two major demerits for sexually harassing six female employees over the course of four years, the Taichung City Government told a press conference today.
A two-month investigation has been completed following sexual harassment allegations made against Chang, who was Taichung’s director of public transportation, which he was found guilty of, Taichung City Government Secretary-General Huang Chung-tien (黃崇典) said.
Chang’s pension is to be revoked and he is to receive a NT$300,000 (US$9,216) fine, the government said.
Photo: Su Chin-feng, Taipei Times
The investigation concluded that Chang had used his position to sexually harass his subordinates, damaging government credibility, he said.
Addressing concerns that Chang received an unusually strict punishment, Huang explained the four main reasons behind the verdict: the number of victims, the power dynamics involved, the extended period of time and the serious effect the harassment had on the working conditions of government employees.
According to regulations, investigations of sexual harassment allegations must be completed within two months, although in exceptional circumstances this can be extended by one month.
When asked if the investigation had taken too long, Deputy Minister of Transportation Chiang Chun-liang (江俊良) said the bureau worked as fast as possible given the number of complainants interviewed.
Chang also required time to prepare his defense, he added.
The Taichung City Government received the first complaint of sexual harassment from a female employee on Sep. 9, after which five further women came forward, said Chiang, who led the committee handling the sexual harassment allegations.
The Transportation Bureau assigned a three-person task force including two women and a lawyer specializing in sexual harassment cases, he added.
At the time, Chang was granted leave while the investigation was underway, resulting in widespread suspicion and politicians such as Democratic Progressive Party Taichung City Councilor Huang Shou-ta (黃守達) exposing the details of the case in a council committee meeting on Nov. 4.
Huang revealed that a Miss A had accused Chang of asking her on a date under the guise of a meeting, while a Miss E levelled more serious accusations of physical and verbal harassment.
Miss E claimed that Chang grabbed her in a bear hug, caressed her arms and hands and told her that he felt aroused looking at her, Huang said.
Miss E today expressed her thanks to Huang, senior government officials and the director-general for their help, but added she still hopes that Chang would formally apologize to the victims and that the city government would take sexual harassment allegations seriously and enact measures to prevent more cases from happening.
Huang said today that due to the nature and length of the harassment, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) should apologize to the victims and ask Taichung Transportation Bureau Director-General Yeh Chao-fu (葉昭甫) to step down.
Although Chang’s position has been terminated, the government has not clarified whether this means he will be permitted to return to a civil service role in the future, Huang added.
This scandal could be just the tip of the iceberg, and the Taichung City Government should launch widespread investigations to find out if other harassment scandals have been covered up, he said.
The bureau has already taken steps to counter sexual harassment in the wake of this incident, including increasing training in sexual harassment prevention, providing accessible complaint channels and encouraging employees to stand up against harassment and file official complaints, Yeh said.
He also hopes to increase surveillance of public areas, he added.
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