Ding Yungong (left), a former spokesman for the Presidential Palace, had sex with a female reporter in his office. He was dismissed and suspended for two years in the first instance.

The second trial is scheduled to be pronounced on October 28.

(file photo)

[Reporter Wu Zhengfeng/Taipei Report] Ding Yun-gong, the former spokesman of the Presidential Office as the information director of the Kaohsiung City Government, interacted with a female TV reporter and had sex on the desk. The disciplinary court found him to be dissolute in the first instance, damaging the image of a civil servant, and sentenced to dismissal. 2 years.

The Overwatch Council was dissatisfied that the collegial panel did not find Ding sexual harassment, and filed an appeal. The second instance of the Punishment Court held a closed trial on the 4th, and the verdict is scheduled to be pronounced on October 28th.

The Overwatch Council appealed that Ding Yungong uploaded a photo with a female reporter, which caused her work troubles and constituted sexual harassment.

The second instance was held on the 4th, and three scholars who had studied gender issues were invited to appear in court as appraisers, but because the case involved sexual harassment, the trial was closed.

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The court hearing lasted for three hours, and the presiding judge, Li Bodao, announced at the end of the court that the sentence would be pronounced at 3 pm on October 28.

After the court, Ding Yungong walked out of the court without saying a word; Ji Huirong, the supervisory committee, said that there was an agreement with the collegial panel, and the content of the court hearing could not be disclosed to the public.

The point of contention in this case is whether Ding Yungong put the photo online, does it constitute sexual harassment?

The collegial panel invited Jiao Xingkai, a researcher from the European and American Institute of Academia Sinica, Guo Linghui, a professor of the Department of Law of Taipei University, and Wu Zhiguang, Dean of the School of Law of Fu University, to appear in court to issue their opinions.

The Overwatch Council appealed that Ding Yungong, knowing that the female reporter had developed another relationship, posted pictures that were extremely unfriendly and full of revenge to show her "control" and "dominance", which was enough to create a "sexually hostile environment" and allow her to do so. The female reporter was caught in the gossip, which affected her psychology, work, and normal life, and finally caused financial difficulties. She had to ask Ding Yungong for financial assistance. This is the traumatic reaction of the female reporter after being sexually harassed.

The supervisory court pointed out that in 2017, the female reporter had repeatedly expressed her breakup and refusal to pursue her. Ding Yungong continued to subpoena and harass, as evidenced by the LINE records of the interaction between the two parties. Continually express the facts of personal desires and pursuits.

This case is an important case that has attracted social attention and affects the rights and interests of women in Taiwan. I hope that the second instance will realize the discriminatory structure behind sexual harassment.