Bullying, Drunk Driving, Fake Expenses: Taiwan's Geneva Representative Accused of Over 200 Misconduct Cases, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Launches Investigation

Lee Kuan-te, Director of Taiwan's Geneva Office, has been accused of widespread misconduct since his appointment in December 2024, including misuse of public funds, falsifying expense reports, personal use of public money, illegal withholding of salaries and benefits, violating staff rights, workplace bullying, verbal abuse harming colleagues' mental and physical health, leadership failure, administrative rigidity delaying official duties, abuse of authority, misuse of public resources, taking credit while shifting blame onto junior staff, disregarding personal safety, creating legal risks, and diplomatic incompetence damaging national image and international relations. After failed internal communication, staff formally filed a complaint. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today (9th) that it has accepted the case and established a special investigation committee primarily composed of external members to officially launch an investigation.

Drunk Driving at 140 km/h, 470,000 TWD Spent on Car Washes

According to media reports based on whistleblower information, since his December 2024 appointment, Lee has allegedly abused public funds, submitted false expense claims, and engaged in workplace bullying. His wife has reportedly used her title as 'Director's spouse' to enter the office without authorization, rummaging through staff workspaces and bullying cleaning staff at the official residence. A 134-page complaint details 203 controversial incidents.

Reports indicate that Lee drove at 140 km/h while returning from Nyon, Switzerland, to the office, carrying staff members, after consuming beer and hard liquor. He frequently changed lanes and overtaking on highways, exceeding the speed limit by 36 km/h—reaching Switzerland's threshold for criminal prosecution. Embassy staff received diplomatic police inquiries from Geneva twice as a result.

The complaint alleges Lee used public funds to purchase large quantities of personal items. Within less than seven months of taking office, he spent 12,000 Swiss francs (approximately 475,000 TWD) on washing and maintaining his official vehicle. Internal staff communications and records show Lee routinely uses humiliating language, including frequent outbursts such as 'I decide, you shut up' and 'I'm the director, I decide.' He exhibits an 'almost obsessive fixation' on document formatting, repeatedly demanding staff revise and resubmit documents over minor issues like semicolons or font weight.

Purchasing High-Priced Chocolate with Public Funds, Splitting Bills to Evade Review

Reports state Lee spent 130,000 TWD (about 3,632.40 Swiss francs) of public funds on premium chocolates priced over 2,000 TWD per box, intended as gifts for domestic contacts. To evade audit scrutiny, he instructed staff to request the vendor split the invoice into multiple smaller ones, allocating expenses across different budget categories to reduce individual amounts. Some expenditures were falsely labeled as gifts for allied officials or office hospitality to justify the spending.

The complaint further alleges Lee lacks diplomatic tact. In January 2025, after the U.S. announced its withdrawal from the WHA (World Health Assembly), the U.S. mission arranged a meeting between Lee and senior Washington officials. When asked whether the U.S. withdrawal would affect Taiwan's future proposals, Lee immediately replied, 'Not at all,' leaving U.S. mission staff present visibly embarrassed and confused.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it consistently prioritizes creating a safe, respectful, and supportive workplace environment. It emphasized multiple confidential channels exist for reporting workplace mistreatment, management issues, or internal conflicts, and continues urging all overseas posts to fulfill proper management and leadership responsibilities. Regarding this case, the Ministry confirmed it has accepted the allegations related to workplace bullying and established a special investigation committee primarily composed of external members to formally initiate the investigation. Other allegations will be reviewed and handled according to law by relevant departments.