Male Employee Secretly Films Under a Skirt in Taiwan, Iwate Prefectural Officials Bow in Apology

The Iwate Prefectural Government held an apology press conference, stating that a male employee in his 30s who belongs to the prefecture's Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Department was arrested by the Taiwanese police in early June during a trip to Taiwan for allegedly secretly filming under a woman's skirt at a Taipei MRT station. The prefectural government will verify the facts and impose disciplinary action on him.

According to a report by Central News Agency on the 20th, Japanese Fuji News Network and All Nippon News Network reported that the Iwate Prefecture Government held a press conference on the 18th to apologize for the arrest of the government employee by Taiwanese police for alleged secret filming. Two officials addressed the press about the incident and bowed in apology before the media.

The Iwate Prefecture Government stated that the arrested individual is a male employee in his 30s at the technical officer level under the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Department. He is suspected of using a small camera placed in a bag to secretly film under a woman's skirt around 9 a.m. Taiwan time on June 8, while riding an up-going escalator at an MRT station in Taipei.

According to surveillance camera footage in the MRT station, a man dressed in shorts, a short-sleeve shirt, and carrying a backpack was seen standing close to a woman in front of him while riding the escalator. He allegedly made suspicious movements, appearing to extend an object under the woman's skirt.

Iwate Prefecture stated that the male employee has largely admitted to the allegations. However, since Taiwanese police have not disclosed detailed information, the prefectural government has not released his name or age. It is known that he took leave and traveled to Taiwan starting June 5.

The Iwate Prefecture Government stated that it will continue to verify the facts and deliberate on disciplinary measures.