Lawmaker Demands Recovery of Benefits from Former Official with Revoked Doctorate; Minister Promises 3-Month Probe

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 3) Kuomintang Legislator Chen Ching-hui questioned Minister of Labor Hung Shen-han on Monday about whether to recover benefits obtained by former CEO of the Occupational Accident Prevention and Rehabilitation Center, Lee Po-chang, whose doctorate was revoked. Hung said he would investigate within three months and recover benefits according to the law.

The Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee of the Legislative Yuan reviewed amendments to the Gender Equality in Employment Act and the Employment Insurance Act on Monday, with Hung and others attending to answer questions. The agenda for the day only included Q&A, not article-by-article review.

Chen pointed out that Lee Po-chang was reported for plagiarism in his doctoral dissertation. Lee knew he was under investigation as of April 30, but before the matter was reported by the media on May 13, he used confidential documents to promote 13 people. He then resigned on May 23.

Chen said Lee not only deceived the school but also the country, as his doctorate may have facilitated his promotion and allowed him to receive allowances, bonuses, and research grants. She urged the Ministry of Labor not to let resignation become a firewall to cut off responsibility and demanded disciplinary action.

Hung responded that Lee was hired as the CEO of the legal entity not because of his doctorate, but because he had served as Deputy Director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and had worked in related research institutes. Regarding any benefits Lee may have obtained based on his doctorate, Hung said he would discuss with the personnel department and recover what should be recovered according to laws and regulations, with an investigation report expected within three months.

Chen also questioned how Lee, knowing he was under investigation and having questionable credibility, could still issue confidential documents to promote 13 people, and whether there was any precedent in the Ministry of Labor for promoting so many people before resignation.

Hung explained that he respects the school's professional academic ethics investigation, but Lee was indeed the CEO at the time. As for the confidential documents, he noted that personnel-related documents have always been handled confidentially due to personal data protection, not intentionally kept secret. He emphasized that personnel matters would be handled according to laws and regulations.

An announcement on the website of the Office of Academic Affairs of National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology stated that, in accordance with Article 17 of the "Degree Conferral Law" and Article 6 of the university's "Regulations for Handling Plagiarism, Ghostwriting, and Fraud in Master's and Doctoral Theses," the doctoral degree certificate of Lee ○ Chang, who graduated in June 2017 from the doctoral program of the Institute of Civil Engineering and Technology, College of Engineering, former National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences, has been revoked. (Editor: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150603