Keelung Water Resource Center Waste Dumping Case: Prosecutors Search Public Works Department, Question Section Chief

Central News Agency, Keelung, May 14 (Reporter Wang Chao-yu) - The Keelung District Prosecutors Office, investigating a case of waste dumping at the Heping Island Water Resource Recovery Center, searched the Keelung City Government's Public Works Department today. They questioned Mr. Kao, the chief of the Sewerage Division, as a defendant. The case is currently being investigated for violations of the Waste Management Act and criminal breach of trust.

The Heping Island Water Resource Recovery Center is supervised by the Public Works Department and operated by a contracted company. Prosecutors received a tip-off that construction waste was being dumped in the wetland behind the center. As the center has only one entrance with access control, it is suspected that someone condoned the illegal dumping by contractors.

The Keelung District Prosecutors Office activated a liaison platform to investigate. A special task force was formed by prosecutors, the Northern Mobile Investigation Division of the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, and the Northern Environmental Management Center of the Ministry of Environment. The investigative team searched the city's Public Works Department and the water resource recovery center today.

In addition to questioning Section Chief Kao as a defendant, investigators also questioned four other civil servants from the Sewerage Division as either defendants or witnesses. Furthermore, they summoned nine individuals from the water resource center's operating company and two other businesses to clarify whether civil servants knowingly permitted the act, if it was solely the operator illegally opening the gate for contractors, or if both civil servants and the operator were aware.

The Keelung City Government's Public Works Department stated that the city government respects and will cooperate with the prosecution's investigation. Relevant personnel from the Public Works Department are fully cooperating with the investigation and providing all necessary information to the investigative units. Due to the principle of investigation confidentiality, no further details were provided. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150514