Prosecutors indict 4 in Taitung preschool assault, seek heavy penalties

Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) The Taitung District Prosecutors Office on Tuesday announced indictments against four people accused of physically assaulting six children in a special preschool education class at an elementary school in Taitung County in January this year.

The office said it is seeking a sentence of six years and 10 months in prison for a teacher surnamed Kao (高) and four years for a teacher surnamed Sung (宋).

Prosecutor Lin Ching-jung (林靖蓉) directed a task force with the Taitung County Police Department to review surveillance camera footage after receiving reports that children in the class had been mistreated, the office said.

The footage allegedly showed physical violence against the young students, including acts such as pushing a student's head against a wall.

The prosecutors stated that Kao and Sung, along with assistants surnamed Huang (黃) and Chiu (丘), engaged in "mistreatment or other actions harmful to the children's development."

Charges include violations of Article 286 of the Criminal Code, Article 112 of the Protection of Children and Youths Welfare and Rights Act, and Article 304 of the Criminal Code, the office said.

Prosecutors added that Sung also faces a charge of document forgery.

The Taitung County government said in May that Kao was fined NT$600,000 (US$19,540) under Article 50 of the Early Childhood Education and Care Act, and permanently barred from working in the childcare services industry.

The county government said Sung was fined NT$240,000 for bullying, dismissed, and banned from working in childcare services for three years.

The government added that Sung was fined an additional NT$50,000 for failing to report another teacher's abuse, bringing the total penalty to NT$290,000.