Controversy Erupts Over Taipei's Geneva Office Chief Lee Kuan-te; Lin Chia-lung Confirms Return to Taiwan: Investigation Results Expected Within Two Months

Lee Kuan-te, head of Taiwan's mission in Geneva, Switzerland, has been accused of a wide range of misconduct, including misuse of public funds, filing false expense claims, workplace bullying, and other serious allegations. Following a formal directive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) requiring his return for investigation, Lee has recently arrived back in Taiwan. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung stated on the 19th that the allegations against Lee involve multiple complex issues and various agencies, prompting MOFA to accelerate the investigation process, with results expected within two months. When asked whether he had personally met with Lee, Lin replied, "Not yet. He just returned."

Lee is accused of severe workplace bullying and verbal abuse, spreading gender-discriminatory and religiously defamatory remarks, forcing staff to perform dangerous tasks resulting in electric shock, refusing to reimburse staff for advances on official expenses, illegally withholding housing allowances and salaries, abusing authority by using employees as personal drivers, allowing relatives to access confidential documents, and enabling his spouse to bully cleaning staff and file personal expenses under public accounts.

Media reports indicate that the complainant submitted a 15-page formal petition to MOFA, along with a comprehensive dossier titled "Compilation of Incompetence, Public Safety Hazards, and Supporting Evidence Regarding Director Lee," listing 203 specific allegations.

Lin explained in a previous interview that MOFA received a signed complaint from personnel at the overseas post in late July, immediately launching a formal investigation and establishing a special task force including external members. Given the case involves not only bullying but numerous other serious issues that cannot be adequately investigated through written correspondence, MOFA sent a telegram to Lee in early August demanding his return to Taiwan for investigation and requiring him to provide a detailed explanation. He was also instructed not to interfere with the investigation during his temporary stay at the post, with any such actions to be included in the investigation.

Lin appeared before the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan this morning for a special report and questioning. In a pre-session press briefing, when asked about the current status of the investigation and the timeline for results, Lin reiterated that Lee has returned to Taiwan to face the investigation. Due to the broad scope and inter-agency nature of the case, MOFA is expediting the process, with results generally expected within two months. When pressed on whether he had met Lee in person, Lin confirmed, "Not yet. He just returned."

Notably, multiple media outlets recently reported that upon learning of the complaints in Geneva, Lee convened a meeting of office staff on August 6 in an apparent attempt to identify the whistleblower and complainants. According to reports, Lee not only denied wrongdoing but attempted to shift blame onto subordinate staff, singling out individuals based on their job responsibilities and demanding to know the sources of the allegations. He reportedly tried to sow discord and division among staff, warning that the complaints would "drag everyone down," potentially harming the office's performance and reputation.