TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Police on Wednesday denied allegations of harassment by political commentator Grace Woo (吳靜怡) after she expressed support for a recall campaign against opposition lawmakers.

She had claimed a police officer followed her around on a scooter for a long time on Jan. 1 after a confrontation between supporters and opponents of the recall in Taipei’s Xinyi District. Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) said Wednesday the officer had not been acting on orders from the National Police Agency.

Woo accused KMT Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) Taipei City Government of being behind the incident and of using martial law tactics against opponents. Xinyi Precinct on Wednesday rejected the allegation, saying it had sent officers to the scene of the confrontation to protect those involved, per CNA.

It was police practice for officers to follow individuals until they had reached public transport or left the scene, a precinct spokesperson said. However, because Woo stayed in the area, and because the officer did not receive orders to leave, he followed for 67 minutes, leading to a misunderstanding, police said.

In the future there would be clearer orders for officers to follow, with an explanation to be provided to members of the public. Precinct chief Lee Hsien-tsang (李憲蒼) said he had applied for disciplinary measures against himself, and asked the public not to blame grassroots police officers.