McDonald's manager sexual assault case dismissed over lack of evidence

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Taipei prosecutors said Monday that there is insufficient evidence to indict a former McDonald's manager accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old worker who later killed herself in November last year.

The Shilin District Prosecutors Office said that the decision came at the conclusion of its investigation, which involved questioning the complainant, the complainant's representative, and the suspect.

Investigators also reviewed documentary evidence provided by McDonald's, the prosecutors said.

The prosecutor's office also noted that it cannot publish further information at this time as the case relates to sexual assault.

The case was transferred to the Shilin District Prosecutors Office in May last year, police said, where it was assigned to women and children's case specialists.

The case gained public notice after the girl's mother said on the social media platform Threads in December 2024 that her daughter had been driven to suicide after being sexually assaulted by her supervisor at McDonald's over a yearlong period.

The post received more than 600 comments and around 1,700 reposts within 10 days, attracting the attention of the Taiwanese media.

In December, Taipei's Department of Labor ordered McDonald's to pay a fine of NT$1 million (US$30,535) for violating Article 13-2 of the Gender Equality in Employment Act.

This was the maximum fine allowable for failing to take "immediate and effective corrective and remedial measures" in instances where the employer "becomes aware of a situation involving sexual harassment," according to the act.

In January, McDonald's issued an apology in a media statement, saying the company "failed to take preventative action before it happened, and the handling was not timely nor comprehensive enough."

The company said it dismissed the manager in May 2024 following the girl's sexual harassment complaint in March of that year.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts in Taiwan, please call the 1925, 1995 or 1980 hotlines for help.