Officer suspected of recording women’s toilet dismissed: police

• Written by Wang Kuan-jen and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, staff writer and with CNA

A police officer suspected of placing a hidden camera in the women’s restroom of a police station was punished and dismissed, the Taipei Police Department’s Daan District said today.

The Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office, during its investigation into Taiwan’s largest online forum that posts private pornographic images, identified the officer in question, surnamed Kuo (郭), as a member, the district said in a press release.

It was stated that the district applied for a search warrant and searched the station where Kuo worked, as well as his place of residence, and seized evidence, including computers, cell phones and hard drives.

Photo: Weng Yu-huang, Taipei Times

The district added that Kuo is suspected of installing a pinhole camera in the station’s women’s restroom to secretly record female officers and members of the public, allegedly organizing the recordings into categories and keeping track of the identities of those recorded.

The district said Kuo was turned over to prosecutors on suspicion of violating privacy laws and was subsequently taken into custody.

It was stated that although Kuo resigned voluntarily during the investigation, saying that he was no longer fit to be a police officer, he was still “severely punished” and dismissed.

The district is evaluating Kuo’s superiors for any liability they may have in the incident, he said, adding that the district is committed to conducting a thorough investigation without leniency to protect the police department’s reputation.