Central Police University (CPU) President Chen Che-wen (???) was given a minor demerit by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) Thursday for meeting with an alleged gang leader at a private club in 2017, while serving as an assistant director-general of the National Police Agency.

In a press release, the MOI said Chen received the punishment from a performance evaluation committee after evidence was provided showing him going into the private club in Taipei’s Xinyi District in August 2017, at the invitation of an alleged gang leader surnamed Lin (?).

Lin was arrested in November 2022, but later released on bail of NT$3 million, for his involvement in a money laundering case.

Chen’s failure to obtain permission, either before or after the event, represents a violation of regulations governing police officers’ dealings with certain individuals, the statement added.

The committee handed down the punishment after extensive discussions that examined Chen’s misconduct from both legal and disciplinary perspectives, the ministry said.

As a veteran police officer, Chen failed to comply with government regulations that prohibit police personnel from inappropriate interactions with individuals considered to pose a threat to public security, seriously undermining government integrity, it explained.

Shortly after the MOI’s news release, CPU also issued a statement announcing that Chen had officially applied for early retirement at the age of 63, due to “personal life planning.”

Later on Thursday, Cabinet spokesman Lo Ping-cheng (???) said Premier Su Tseng-chang (???) had agreed to Chen’s application for retirement which will be handled by the MOI.

Chen’s visit to the club five years ago was revealed by former Legislator Huang Kuo-chang (???) and various social media outlets on Nov. 4.

At the time, Chen said he visited the club to collect information relating to Chang An-le (???), an alleged gangster who also founded the China Unification Promotion Party. He also insisted it was the one and only time he went to the club.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel