The Disciplinary Court today began the trial of former Disciplinary Court chief justice Lee Po-tao (李伯道), who has been accused of sexually harassing and bullying his female subordinates and a female section chief.
Lee allegedly physically and verbally sexually harassed a female employee on seven occasions in 2023, including hugging her, holding her hands and saying “I really like you” and “you smell good,” an investigation by the Judge Evaluation Committee found.
The offenses took place in the office and in his hotel room while on official business, the committee found.
Photo: Taipei Times
Once the allegations became known, the Judicial Yuan requested Lee to voluntarily retire, following which the woman filed an official complaint.
Lee is also facing a separate case of workplace bullying against female subordinates and a female section chief, after an investigation found that he had repeatedly denied leave requests and harshly reprimanded them.
Investigations by the Judicial Yuan and the committee confirmed that sexual harassment had taken place, while the Control Yuan ascertained that workplace bullying had occurred.
The Judicial Yuan transferred the two cases to the Disciplinary Court, while the Control Yuan impeached Lee.
Lee did not attend the trial that began at 9:30am, and was instead represented by his lawyer.
The trial is being held at the Taichung branch of the Taiwan High Court, the Disciplinary Court’s largest courtroom, but would not be publicly broadcast, as it concerns sexual harassment.
Representatives from the committee, Judicial Yuan and Control Yuan were in attendance.
Lee previously served as the chief justice of the Supreme Court and chief justice of the Taichung High Court, before his promotion to chief justice of the Disciplinary Court in October 2020.
The Disciplinary Court handles cases for public servants who contravene conduct regulations.
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