Former EPA official gets 5-year sentence for sexual assault

Taipei, Nov. 6 (CNA) Former Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) official Lee Chien-yu (李健育) was sentenced Thursday to five years and two months in prison for the sexual assault of four women between 2022 and 2023.

Lee, the former head of the EPA Inspectorate's Inspection Team, was found guilty of one count of rape, five counts of forced indecency, and two counts of power-based indecency, in a Taichung District Court ruling, which can be appealed.

He had been on trial on one count of rape, six counts of forcible indecency, and three counts of abuse of authority to commit indecency against four women, who were his subordinates at the EPA.

During the trial, Lee denied some of the charges, saying he could not remember much of what happened, as he had blacked out because he was drunk.

The court, however, did not accept his excuse, saying his statements did not match the victims' testimony.

According to the court, Lee had reached settlements with the four victims, agreeing to pay damages.

The ruling also stated that he had abused his position as the victims' superior, taking advantage of them during work and business trips, and causing lasting psychological trauma by sexually abusing them.

As a result, Lee was sentenced to five years and two months in prison, the court ruling said.