Kaohsiung daycare center ordered to shut down over abuse allegations

Taipei, April 26 (CNA) An infant daycare center in Kaohsiung has been ordered to cease operations for allegedly mistreating children under its care, the city's Social Affairs Bureau said on Friday.

At least eight children, aged between 2 months and 2 years old, were found to have been abused from Feb. 10-12 at Bei Yujia Infant Daycare Center in Nanzih District, the bureau's deputy director-general Yeh Yu-ju (葉玉如) said at a news conference.

Based on evidence collected from the center's surveillance cameras, the children were subjected to improper feeding and other mistreatment, Yeh said.

The incident involved three people, including a married couple identified by their last names Chu (朱) and Yang (楊), and a former employee surnamed Tung (董) who recently resigned from Bei Yujia.

The daycare center is registered under Chu's name but actually run by Yang, who has been banned from operating or working in a childcare organization for five years due to a prior child abuse record in her previous role as a nanny in 2020, Kaohsiung City Councilor Lee Ya-hui (李雅慧) said at the event.

The daycare center was shut down but then reopened at the same location last year under her husband's name, Lee explained, suggesting that the government reevaluate its review system for childcare organizations.

Yeh said the bureau noticed that the business had re-registered to open at the same location but approved the application because it conformed to regulations as it was under Chu's name.

According to the bureau, Yang and Tung were fined NT$480,000 (US$14,745) and NT$60,000, respectively, for contraventions of the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act.

In addition to the NT$480,000 fine, Yang was banned from operating or working in a childcare organization for 30 years, Yeh said, adding that the bureau is currently working to assist families transfer their children to other daycare centers, adding that four parents have already filed lawsuits against the center.

The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office in Kaohsiung has been investigating the case since mid-March after incidences of alleged child abuse were reported by the city's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Center.

Raids were carried out on Bei Yujia with Chu, Yang and Tung brought in for questioning by police in early April, prosecutors said.

The couple were later released on bail of NT$40,000 each while Tung was also let go after posting bail of NT$10,000, they added, indicating that the investigation is still ongoing.