A woman riding an escalator at Taipei MRT’s Zhongxiao Fuxing Station was allegedly splashed with an unidentified wet and sticky liquid by a man, who then followed her before fleeing the scene.
The incident reportedly happened at around 11am on 24 July as the woman was travelling down an escalator to leave the station. She suddenly noticed a wet, sticky substance on her arm and clothes, accompanied by an unusual smell. When she turned around, she saw a man standing behind her, appearing nervous with both hands near his trousers. He was not carrying a bottle or any other container that could have held water.
The woman was left frightened and immediately turned around to seek help from the station service counter. However, the man allegedly followed her back into the station and even made a strange backwards movement towards her, causing her further distress. She was eventually accompanied by station staff and made a police report, while also lodging a sexual harassment complaint.
Police from Taipei’s Daan Precinct subsequently formed a special task force to identify the suspect. As the man had entered using a single-journey ticket, investigators could not initially trace him through electronic ticket records.
Officers instead reviewed CCTV footage and tracked his movements after he left Zhongxiao Fuxing Station. Investigators found that he had walked along the streets towards Zhongxiao Dunhua Station before purchasing another single-journey ticket and taking the MRT away from the area.
By comparing surveillance footage from different locations, police eventually identified the man and summoned him for questioning. During questioning, he reportedly admitted to the act, claiming that he had been under considerable pressure at the time and acted in such a manner as a result.
Police have since referred the case to the Taipei City Government Department of Social Welfare for investigation under the administrative complaint procedure of Taiwan’s Sexual Harassment Prevention Act, while the case has also been forwarded to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for further investigation.
