New Taipei Police Officer Leaked Investigation Secrets to Gang Members, Disciplinary Court Rules One-Year Suspension

(Central News Agency reporter Lin Chang-Taipei, May 1st) A police officer surnamed Ou from the New Taipei City Police Department was suspected of leaking police investigation secrets to gang members after a gang shooting incident occurred in 2023. In the criminal case, he was sentenced to 6 months in prison, commutable to a fine, with a 2-year probation, which has been finalized. The Disciplinary Court ruled a one-year suspension from duty for Ou, which can be appealed.

According to the judgment, during Ou's tenure at the New Taipei City Police Department's Haishan Precinct, a shooting incident occurred on the evening of April 20, 2023, where members of the Bamboo Union's Ren Tang Hong Ren Hui Hong Sheng Group fired assault rifles at a pawn shop's iron gate. The Banqiao Precinct of New Taipei City Police Department reported the case to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office for investigation, and the investigating officers established a LINE group to report case information.

The judgment states that Ou, through an unknown method, learned about the investigation content and case summary of the shooting incident. Between April 20 and 25, 2023, he leaked the case summary to a gang leader surnamed Jian of the Hong Sheng Group through an intermediary, and also leaked the content of the shooter's statement at the Banqiao Precinct to Jian.

After the New Taipei City Criminal Investigation Division and assisting units searched for and arrested a suspect surnamed Yang involved in the shooting, and also searched the strongholds of Hong Sheng Group members, Yang was brought back to the New Taipei City Criminal Investigation Division for questioning, where he explained the details of the shooting and the hiding of firearms. Upon learning this, Ou sent messages to Jian, leaking secrets under investigation.

In the criminal part, the New Taipei District Court, based on the crime of a public servant leaking secrets other than national defense secrets, sentenced Ou to 6 months in prison, commutable to a fine, with a 2-year probation, and ordered him to pay NT$150,000 to the public treasury within one year from the date the judgment becomes final. Ou did not appeal, and the judgment became final. The New Taipei City Government referred Ou to the Disciplinary Court for review.

Ou argued that because part of the shooting incident occurred within his jurisdiction and he knew Jian and others, he believed he could obtain information about who was involved through inquiries, hoping to gain recognition from his superiors. He admitted to committing the act of leaking secrets without considering that Jian might be involved. He hoped the Disciplinary Court would impose a lighter penalty, given that the court had already granted him a chance for rehabilitation with probation.

The Disciplinary Court stated that as a police officer, Ou's duty is to investigate crimes and maintain social order. However, he leaked secrets under investigation to the leader of the Hong Sheng Group, which was sufficient to affect the prosecution and police's investigation of the shooting incident. The degree of his violation of duty was not light. Considering that Ou confessed to his actions and had a good performance record and rewards/punishments during his time as a police officer, the court ruled a one-year suspension from duty for Ou, which can be appealed. (Editor: Hsieh Ya-chu) 1150501

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