Ex-diplomat to St. Lucia faces impeachment due to alleged sexual misconduct
The Control Yuan, Taiwan's government watchdog, has impeached Peter Chen, the former ambassador to Saint Lucia, due to allegations of sexual harassment made by a female diplomat in 2016.
Chen served as ambassador to Saint Lucia from mid-2020 to early this year. The sexual harassment incident occurred in a hotel room in May 2016 during a briefing on a special project. According to the Control Yuan's findings, Chen allegedly put his arms around the victim's waist and forced her down on the hotel room bed against her will.
The Control Yuan stated that Chen's actions seriously damaged the image of a diplomat and the country as a whole. They deemed his behavior unbecoming of a diplomat after reviewing witness testimonies and available evidence. The Control Yuan's decision was based in part on an apology Chen sent to the victim's phone following the incident.
Prior to his ambassadorship, Chen was the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Protocol. At the time of the incident, he was on home assignment at the ministry's Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs.
The victim initially chose not to make the case public due to the possibility of crossing paths with Chen again at the ministry. She filed an official complaint over Chen's harassment to the ministry on Oct. 16, 2021. The ministry completed its internal probe into the matter and found the victim's accusation legitimate on Nov. 13, 2021.
Chen defended himself by claiming the victim leveled the charge because of a grudge due to his harshness at work. However, the Control Yuan dismissed his claims and issued the impeachment on a specific day.
The ministry respects the Control Yuan's decision regarding Peter Chen. The case has been referred to the Disciplinary Court, which handles cases of civil servant misconduct. Disciplinary measures that Chen could face include being relieved of his duties, having his pension and/or salary cut, being given a demerit, or being demoted.
It is important to note that this article reports the facts of the case as they have been presented and does not include any opinions or speculations. The Control Yuan's impeachment of Peter Chen serves as a reminder of the importance of respect and professionalism, especially in diplomatic settings.
