Taiwan police beneath scanner after teen sexually assaulted in botched sting operation

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Two law enforcement officials in Taiwan are beneath the scanner after a teenage woman was sexually assaulted throughout a botched sting operation by a person she accused of blackmailing her.

The 13-year-old woman approached police within the Zhongli district of the northwestern metropolis of Taoyuan in November 2020 to lodge a criticism towards a person she met on an app for blackmailing her into having intercourse with him.

The person, recognized solely by his surname Chang, threatened to publish specific photos and provided NT$5,000 (£120) in return for sexual favours.

Whereas he was convicted to eight years in jail final month, particulars of what the attacker did to the teenager throughout the botched sting operation emerged solely throughout the trial.

Courtroom paperwork revealed the woman was allegedly used within the undercover operation by two police officers to nab the wrongdoer after she approached authorities with the criticism towards the person.

The woman agreed to satisfy Chang after the 2 officers assured her of her security. They mentioned they’d observe her to a McDonald’s outlet the place she was supposed to satisfy her blackmailer.

However the officers misplaced her after she obtained right into a automotive with the person and was pushed just a few hundred metres away as they tried to chase her on foot, native media reported, citing court docket paperwork.

Chang then sexually assaulted the woman within the automotive earlier than leaving her on the McDonald’s, the place he was arrested by the police.

The 2 law enforcement officials are being investigated on varied violations, together with negligence, reported CNA.

The woman agreed to be a part of the sting operation after she was assured of her security by the 2 officers.

A Zhongli department police spokesperson on Thursday appeared accountable the woman as he mentioned the police had instructed her to not get into the automotive.

The incident prompted outrage on social media, with folks accusing police of placing the lifetime of the woman in peril by utilizing her as bait.

On Saturday, the Taoyuan police division issued an apology, saying the 2 officers are beneath investigation after being referred to the District Prosecutors Workplace.

They’ve been positioned on administrative duties because the investigation continues. Two different senior officers had been additionally given demerits for damaging the status of the police as they had been a part of the preliminary investigation.

There isn’t a regulation in Taiwan that permits inclusion of minors in undercover operations in Taiwan however, beneath the nation’s civil code, those that infringe upon the rights of others, both deliberately or unintentionally, could possibly be sued, reported CNA.