Former Atomic Energy Council minister Hsieh Shou-shing (謝曉星) is to be fined NT$600,000 for sexually harassing female subordinates before his dismissal in January 2023, the Disciplinary Court ruled yesterday.
Hsieh was the first Cabinet official to be removed from office following a sexual harassment case involving a power imbalance.
In July 2023, he was unanimously impeached by the Control Yuan.
Photo: Yang Hsin-hui, Taipei Times
The case was forwarded to the Disciplinary Court, and corrective measures were issued to the council.
The Control Yuan investigation found four major faults in Hsieh’s conduct: sexual harassment, sex-based discrimination, workplace bullying and contraventions of COVID-19 pandemic regulations.
Hsieh led the council from May 2016 until his dismissal in 2023.
After allegations of sexual harassment first emerged in October 2022, Hsieh requested an investigation from the Executive Yuan, which assigned a special task force that concluded the investigation in January 2023.
The investigation report said that Hsieh had contravened the Gender Equality in Employment Act (性別平等工作法) for sex-based discrimination and creating a hostile work environment through sexual harassment.
Investigators found that Hsieh had hired eight female secretaries during his time in office, with allegations that he stared at and touched his female subordinates without their consent, and made comments about their appearance such as “you look like a young girl” and “you are the most beautiful view.”
He also required female subordinates to ask him for leave in person without legitimate reason, whereas his male subordinates were not subject to the same rule, they found.
Hsieh resigned from his position upon learning of the investigation results, while the Cabinet dismissed him and publicly released the report on Jan. 11, 2023.
Hsieh disagreed with the report, but his appeals and administrative lawsuits to overturn the findings have been unsuccessful.
The Disciplinary Court said that Hsieh seriously damaged the government’s image by abusing his position of power.
His repeated bullying and harassment of subordinates was serious, and he has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, the court said.
The ruling can be appealed.
Additional reporting by CNA
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