TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) apologized to the children and parents affected by the sexual abuse scandal by a former preschool teacher.
Mao Chun-shen (毛畯珅) is being investigated for sexually abusing almost 30 young girls at Taipei Piramide School (台北市私立培諾米達幼兒園), a private preschool owned by his mother. The man, in his 30s, was indicted in August 2023 on charges of aggravated rape and aggravated offenses of forced obscenity against six girls, and prosecutors are still investigating at least 20 additional allegations.
Parents first reported their concerns to the school in July 2022, and the case was reported to the police, per CNA. However, prosecutors dropped the case after reviewing surveillance footage and finding insufficient evidence.
In 2023, another investigation began after one preschool student revealed bodily pain and disturbing findings about the teacher’s actions. Investigators eventually found proof that the man sexually molested and assaulted six children from 2021 to 2023.
This month, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) filed a complaint against Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) and former Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) for what they called the city government’s failure to respond. The teacher should have been suspended during the investigation, but their belated response enabled the suspect to harm more children, the councilors said.
Chiang told reporters that parents are responsible for protecting their children from harm, and if any child in Taipei is harmed under his leadership, "I must bear responsibility.” The mayor said laws and policies will be reviewed and improved to avoid similar incidents.
