Lawmakers yesterday accused the Hualien County Government of burying a case of alleged sexual assault involving an elementary-school principal last year.
The principal allegedly sexually assaulted a woman from another school while on a business trip in Taipei from Nov. 21 to 22 last year, the woman’s husband said.
The principal allegedly invited her to what he called a “business meal” and took her to a motel when she was drunk, he said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Although a complaint was sent to the county commissioner, the county government said that penalties would not be given until the judicial proceeding ends, leaving them helpless, the husband said, adding that his wife quit her job on Feb. 1.
Given that the alleged perpetrator has authority as a school principal, they decided to draw public attention, as his wife might not be the only one affected, he said.
The news conference was held at the legislature in Taipei yesterday, attended by the woman’s husband along with Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜), independent Hualien County Councilor Yang Hua-mei (楊華美), Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation CEO Tu Ying-chiu (杜瑛秋) and Garden of Hope Foundation associate executive officer Wang Shu-fen (王淑芬).
The woman in a prerecorded audio said that she has been suffering from profound self-doubt and distress since the alleged incident.
The woman filed the complaint to the county commissioner on Dec. 5 last year, Yang said.
However, the county government on Dec. 19 said that “judicial proceedings have begun and the responsible party will be penalized in accordance with the ruling,” without informing the woman of whether an administrative investigation had started, she said.
That indicated the county government did not actively investigate or listen to what the woman had to say, Yang said.
Administrative proceedings are different from judicial proceedings, and are for the county government to look into the complaint, she said.
The county government could administer sanctions if unlawful actions are confirmed, Yang said, adding that the principal could be suspended from his job while under administrative investigation in accordance with the Act of Gender Equality in Employment (性別工作平等法).
However, the authorities only took action more than two months after the complaint was filed, except for setting up an investigation team last week, she said.
“Given its passive attitude toward the case, is the county government shielding the suspected perpetrator?” Yang asked.
Hualien County Department of Education Director Weng Shu-min (翁書敏) said that her department initiated an administrative investigation upon receiving the complaint last year.
The team of externally commissioned experts found problems that required further clarification and would later submit a full report, she said, adding that strict sanctions would be given if the misconduct is confirmed.
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