Ministry calls for Taipei social worker fraud probe
SANCTIONS: Social workers found guilty of committing crime related to their duties would have their certificate revoked and name published on the ministry’s Web site
By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter
The Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday said it had asked the Taipei City Government to launch an administrative investigation after a former social worker supervisor was on Tuesday detained for allegedly embezzling NT$12 million (US$378,358) from elderly people.
Prosecutors and police received a report alleging that a 38-year-old woman, surnamed Chiang (江), who worked as a supervisor at the Taipei Department of Social Welfare’s Senior Citizen Welfare Division from May last year to June this year, used her position to embezzle the savings of five elderly people under guardianship in Taipei’s Wenshan District (文山).
After Chiang resigned and transferred to the New Taipei City Government, the department noticed funds and properties were missing when it was conducting a handover inventory check, so it reported the case to the police, and prosecutors launched investigation.
A former Taipei social worker surnamed Chiang, second left, is escorted by police officers on Tuesday night.
Photo: Liu Yung-yun, Taipei Times
Police searched Chiang’s residence on Tuesday and seized several handbags and goods from luxury brands including Chanel and Hermes. She was arrested and detained that evening.
Ministry Department of Social Assistance and Social Work Deputy Director-General Yang Ya-lan (楊雅嵐) said the case is still under judicial investigation, but Chiang faces a professional license revocation if found guilty.
The ministry has requested the Taipei City Government to promptly conduct an administrative investigation and take subsequent measures in accordance with investigation results and the law, she said.
According to the Social Worker Act (社會工作師法), if a social worker commits a crime related to their professional duties and receives a final guilty verdict, their certificate and practice license may be revoked, Yang said, adding that the social worker would not be eligible to retake the licensing examination.
The ministry has a dedicated section on its Web site that publicizes the names of social workers who have received disciplinary actions to prevent them from re-entering the social work profession, and to protect the rights and interests of service recipients, she added.
Social and Family Affairs Administration Director Chou Tao-chun (周道君) said that according to the Senior Citizens Welfare Act (老人福利法) and the Civil Code, the court appoints a guardian after it declares an elderly person under legal guardianship.
The guardian can be family or relatives of the elderly person, third parties with relevant professional expertise or the local government, he said.
In Japan, a high percentage of adult guardianships is handled by professional third parties, including lawyers who specialize in that type of work, but it is relatively uncommon in Taiwan, Chou said.
The agency is in discussions with civil society groups on whether that practice should be introduced, what supporting measures would be needed and how to raise public awareness about such practices, he said.
After the agency receives more information on Chiang’s case, it would review whether laws or their implementation could be further improved for better property management mechanism, Chou said.
Separately, the Taipei Department of Social Welfare yesterday said it would not tolerate anyone who misuse their position to infringe upon public interest, and that it would never cover up illegal acts.
The department will fully cooperate with the judicial investigation and hold the person accountable in accordance with the law without leniency, it said, adding that it has reinforced its staff’s integrity awareness and legal education training.
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