Ex-envoy fined and banned from office for two years for sexual harassment

Taipei, Oct. 7 (CNA) Taiwan’s disciplinary court has fined the country’s former representative to Thailand NT$300,000 (US$9,302) and barred him from holding public office for two years after finding him guilty was found to have sexually harassed a subordinate in Bangkok during his term in office.

In its recently released verdict, the Court of Justice Yuan Chuang found Suo-hang (莊碩漢), who took office in Bangkok on July 31, 2022 and resigned on June 21, 2023 following allegations of misconduct, guilty of inappropriate conduct have the head of a foreign mission.

The Judicial Yuan is responsible for disciplinary action against officials.

Although his indiscretion damaged the government’s public image and reputation, Chuang admitted his wrongdoing and apologized to the victim, the court said.

The court therefore ruled that Chuang should be removed from his post and barred from holding public office for two years, along with a fine of NT$300,000.

Chuang can still appeal the verdict.

The ruling came after state regulator Control charged Yuan Chuang in July with sexually harassing a woman who worked under him in the Thailand office.

In its July press statement, the Control Yuan said that Chuang, 68, physically and verbally harassed the woman during his term in office, including by holding her hand and inviting her to his room to discuss draft speeches.

Chuang’s behavior caused fear, discomfort and offense among the subordinate, but she did not feel she could say anything because of his position of power, the government’s top watchdog said.

Along with the impeachment, the case was then referred to the disciplinary court for hearing, the Control Yuan said at the time.

In his defense of the Control Yuan investigations, the senior ruling member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said he apologized and deeply regretted his behavior, which he viewed as a friendly gesture rather than an intent to harass.

He apologized for causing “misunderstanding and displeasure” to the woman in question and also apologized to the people of Taiwan for his “lack of awareness of gender issues.”

Before taking office in Thailand, Chuang served as vice chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.

He was previously Cabinet Spokesperson, Deputy Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council and DPP legislator from 2005 to 2008.

Chuang took the Thailand post to fill the vacancy left by the departure of then-MP Lee Ying-yuan (李應元), who resigned in August 2021 due to health reasons.