Taiwan's Control Yuan reprimands Investigation Bureau over sexual misconduct, 'cover-ups'

Taiwan's Control Yuan has formally reprimanded the Investigation Bureau, citing a disturbing pattern of sexual harassment, voyeurism, and abuse of power cases within the agency. The oversight body condemned the bureau's "lax supervision, systemic flaws, and protecting its own," stating these issues have severely damaged the government's image.

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The Investigation Bureau's lax supervision, systemic flaws, and 'protecting its own' have severely damaged the government's image.

Control Yuan members Chi Hui-jung and Fan Hsun-lu revealed that between 2020 and 2025, 18 sexual harassment cases were substantiated within the bureau, involving 34 female victims. Alarmingly, over 66% of these cases involved superiors harassing subordinates, and 86.7% were instances of senior officers preying on junior colleagues. This power imbalance created a "chilling effect," leading some victims to delay reporting for up to seven years, past the statute of limitations for disciplinary action.

Chi Hui-jung expressed dismay over criminal offenses committed by investigators since 2022, including forced indecent assault on a subway, sexual acts with a minor accompanied by filming, secret recording devices in women's restrooms, and attempted up-skirt filming in 2025. In contrast to other government agencies that dismiss employees for similar offenses, the Investigation Bureau allegedly argued that disciplinary standards were unclear before recent legal amendments, resulting in the most severe penalty being a single demerit. The Ministry of Personnel refuted this, clarifying that agencies could have imposed severe penalties under existing civil service regulations.

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The power imbalance created a 'chilling effect,' leading victims to delay reporting for up to seven years, past the statute of limitations for disciplinary action.

Chi Hui-jung criticized this stance as "protecting its own," arguing it unduly safeguards perpetrators' employment rights. The Control Yuan also identified systemic failures in the bureau's handling of complaints. Approximately 30% of cases, where victims feared reporting due to power dynamics, were handled internally by the bureau's own inspection unit. This unit reportedly lacks gender equality expertise and external oversight, leading to "case-eating" (hiding complaints) and secondary trauma for victims.

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This is fundamentally 'protecting its own,' excessively safeguarding the job rights of perpetrators. The nation does not need investigators with such behavior.

Fan Hsun-lu further pointed to the bureau's problematic drinking culture, noting that several gender-based violence incidents originated from superiors taking subordinates out for meals or drinks, with perpetrators later using intoxication as an excuse. The Control Yuan urged the new director to thoroughly review and strictly handle past serious gender misconduct cases to restore public trust in the integrity of national investigators.

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Approximately 30% of cases, where victims feared reporting due to power dynamics, were handled internally by the bureau's own inspection unit... leading to 'case-eating' and hidden information.