Taxi driver held for alleged sexual attack on South Korean tourist

Taipei- A taxi driver was detained Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting a South Korean tourist in Taipei, an incident that could conceivably undermine Taiwan's efforts to attract more visitors from South Korea.

The driver, identified only by his surname Chan, was detained at the request of prosecutors and faces a maximum of seven years in prison if he is found guilty.

He has reportedly admitted to molesting one of the three South Korean women who hired him for a day trip around northern Taiwan on Jan. 12.

Chan, a married man living in neighboring New Taipei, allegedly injected a knockout drug into a soft drink he gave the three women before sexually assaulting one of the two who passed out in his vehicle.

The third woman, who was not affected because she only drank a sip, got out of the taxi to tour a night market in northern Taipei while Chan allegedly attacked one of the two other women.

The incident came to light on Saturday after the tourists reported the crime to local police. Chan turned himself in later that day and was questioned before a judge granted the prosecutor's request to detain the suspect.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel