Prosecutors have announced a case reopened today involving a McDonald’s supervisor. The High Prosecutors’ Office ordered the reinvestigation into Lee, the accused supervisor. Lee allegedly sexually assaulted a 16-year-old part-time employee in Taipei’s Shilin District. The victim began working at the McDonald’s branch in August 2022. She later died by suicide in November 2024. Consequently, this case reopened after two previous dismissals due to insufficient evidence.
The victim’s mother provided a detailed account of the abuse. Lee allegedly assaulted the girl in employee changing rooms and a storage room. He also used a stairwell and followed her home to her apartment. The mother said her daughter became too afraid to work. The manager refused to sign her resignation paperwork. Therefore, the girl deliberately skipped shifts until dismissal. She filed a police report and a sexual harassment complaint in March 2024. This case reopened following the family’s request for a review of the latest decision.
The Shilin District Prosecutors’ Office dropped the investigation twice. The first dismissal occurred in April last year, and the second in March. Prosecutors cited insufficient evidence for both decisions. In her initial statement, the girl reported six incidents over 11 months. However, she later altered her statement to say ten incidents occurred. Discrepancies in timing, location, and description appeared between the two statements. Witnesses including her mother and two ex-boyfriends corroborated her account. Nevertheless, they were not first-hand witnesses to the events. Messaging records showed frequent contact but no explicit evidence of assault. Medical records revealed a social anxiety diagnosis but no documented sexual assault. Thus, the case reopened now focuses on clarifying these contradictions.
The High Prosecutors’ Office found further facts needed clarification. It sent the case back to Shilin prosecutors for additional investigation. McDonald’s had received the complaint in March 2024. Following an internal investigation, the company found evidence of harassment. McDonald’s dismissed the supervisor as a result. The Taipei Department of Labor in December 2024 fined McDonald’s NT$1 million. The fine resulted from breaching gender equality laws. The labor department determined the firm failed to take effective corrective measures. Consequently, this case reopened carries significant legal and social implications.
The accused supervisor, Lee, denies all wrongdoing. He claims the acts were consensual and never forced against her will. Advocates for sexual assault victims have criticized the previous dismissals. They argue that workplace power dynamics make consent impossible in such cases. The case reopened offers a second chance for justice. The family hopes the new investigation will uncover the truth. Meanwhile, McDonald’s has not issued a new public statement. The labor department’s fine stands as a rare penalty against a major fast-food chain. Experts say the case highlights systemic failures in protecting young workers. The outcome may influence future sexual harassment laws in Taiwan.
