Parliament Removes Former Ambassador to St. Lucia over Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
In a significant development, former Taiwanese ambassador Peter Chen has been impeached by the Control Yuan, the government watchdog, over allegations of sexual harassment. The incident is said to have taken place in May 2016, during Chen's tenure as a supervisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Protocol.
According to the investigation, the victim, a fellow diplomat, filed an official complaint on Oct. 16, 2020, detailing the incident that allegedly occurred in a hotel room. Chen is accused of putting his arms around the victim's waist and forcing her down on the bed against her will. He is also said to have prevented the woman from leaving the room despite her objections.
The Control Yuan's findings concluded that Chen's behavior was unbecoming of a diplomat, based on witness testimonies and available evidence. The report further stated that Chen's actions seriously damaged the image of a diplomat and the country as a whole.
As part of the evidence, an apology sent by Chen to the victim's phone was also considered. However, no photographic evidence was provided in the article.
Chen has defended himself, claiming the accusation was unfounded and that the victim leveled the charge because of a grudge. The ministry has not commented further on the case.
The case has been referred to the Disciplinary Court, which handles cases of civil servant misconduct. Common disciplinary measures for civil servants in Taiwan accused of sexual harassment include being relieved of their duties, salary or pension cuts, receiving demerits, demotion, and impeachment. The Disciplinary Court will determine the punishment for Chen.
The ministry has respected the Control Yuan's decision and concluded the victim's accusation was legitimate on Nov. 13, 2020, and handed the case to the Control Yuan.
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