The Uncatchable "Leakers"! ~ Petitioning Control Yuan Members to Impeach Prosecutors, Police, and Investigation Officers for Violating the Principle of Non-Publicity of Investigation in the "Mama Mouth Case" and the "Blunder Spy Case"

In the "Mama Mouth Case" and the "Blunder Spy Case," prosecutors, police, and investigators committed severe procedural negligence by violating the principle of non-publicity of investigation. This severely damaged the reputations and privacy rights of the individuals involved: Mr. Lü Ping-hung (owner of Mama Mouth) and the late Ms. Kuo Mei-lan (former reporter for the Central News Agency). Years after the incidents, no one has been held accountable or punished. Ms. Kuo even passed away due to illness last month without ever receiving a single official apology! Today, the Judicial Reform Foundation held a press conference in front of the Control Yuan. Mr. Lü Ping-hung was also present to voice his grievances, while the JRF read an appeal letter on behalf of Ms. Kuo Mei-lan's elder brother and jointly submitted a petition, demanding that members of the Control Yuan impeach the prosecutors, police, and investigators who violated the principle of non-publicity of investigation in the "Mama Mouth Case" and the "Blunder Spy Case"!

Photo: Mr. Lü Ping-hung, victim of the Mama Mouth case, speaking at the press conference

Mr. Lü Ping-hung stated that during the Mama Mouth case, he was investigated by prosecutors and police as a suspect. As the interrogation records of his co-defendants were continuously leaked, the media portrayed him as an "accessory to murder," branding his café as a "Dragon Gate Inn." This dealt a severe blow to his business and caused his health to plummet. Although he was subsequently cleared by a non-prosecution disposition, people on the street still point at him and ask, "Aren't you Lü Ping-hung from Mama Mouth? Why didn't you have to go to jail for murder?" As a result, to this day, he still dares not walk side-by-side with his family on the street, and he must wear a hat and sunglasses when going out to avoid being recognized. The photograph of him handcuffed continues to circulate on the internet, making it difficult for him to shake off the label of a murderer.

Regarding the late Ms. Kuo Mei-lan, a journalist caught in the blunder spy case who tragically passed away from illness last month, JRF attorney Ch'en Yü-t'ing read a letter on behalf of her brother, Kuo Ying-cheng, who was unable to attend. The letter stated: "Mei-lan was very naive, thinking that the state would protect its people and that the judiciary would safeguard human rights... Therefore, before her departure, her heart must have still been filled with questions and resentment. Her experience serves as a reminder to everyone of the importance of judicial reform and media ethics... When the JRF contacted me, I knew Mei-lan's personality would never allow her to witness such a situation and remain silent. When our state apparatus still condones and tolerates public authority to continue harming the next innocent citizen, she certainly would not want her family to remain silent. If there is a chance to contribute to systemic reform, let us consider it a way of remembering Mei-lan." The family also privately expressed their full support for accountability actions against prosecutors and investigators.

Attorney Shih Hung-ch'eng, convener of the JRF's Non-Publicity of Investigation Committee, stated that the violations of the principle of non-publicity of investigation by prosecutors and police in the "Mama Mouth Case" were extremely obvious. Not only did they directly allow the media to photograph Mr. Lü in handcuffs, but some reports also featured surveillance footage and photographs of seized evidence that only prosecutors and police could have obtained. The handling prosecutor even made inappropriate public remarks. Upon comparison, the leaked investigative details reported by various media outlets were largely identical, making it hard to imagine that the media fabricated them on their own. In the "Blunder Spy Case," Ms. Kuo Mei-lan's residence was searched by investigators, and she was taken away for isolated interrogation after being sternly warned not to leak secrets—even though the alleged crimes against her were unclear. Yet, while Ms. Kuo was out of contact with the outside world, the media was able to publish extensive reports claiming that she had been reported by an investigator as a "communist spy," was "financially lured as an investigator," and was "gathering intelligence for the Chinese Communist Party," while also publishing an unmasked photograph of Ms. Kuo. Had the prosecutors and investigators not leaked the information, the media would have had no way of knowing.

JRF Executive Director Ch'en Yü-fan stated that the Control Yuan had previously issued an investigative report on this case, requesting competent authorities to discipline the personnel involved for procedural negligence. However, the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency under the Ministry of the Interior surprisingly replied that "no evidence was found that the handling prosecutors and police officers leaked secrets," with the NPA further responding that "all members of the special investigation team stated that they strictly adhered to the principle of non-publicity of investigation." Ch'en Yü-fan believes that competent authorities possess the capacity to investigate who held and leaked the information to the outside world, yet they repeatedly shirk responsibility by claiming that their investigations were inconclusive. This is tantamount to tacitly condoning the police and prosecutors' violations of the principle of non-publicity of investigation to avoid potential responsibility for poor supervision. At a time when ordinary citizens can clearly point out the violations of non-publicity in this case, the official replies from the Ministry of Justice and the NPA are merely excuses and evasions designed to shirk accountability after the fact, further eroding public trust in the judiciary.

JRF Legal Director Huang Ying-chia added that prosecutors, police, and investigators often leak investigative secrets out of a desire to handle high-profile cases, gain exposure, and secure promotions, thereby creating an environment favorable to their investigation. This causes damage to the reputations and privacy of the parties involved and further undermines public trust in the judiciary. While news reports are written by the media, if the prosecutors, police, and investigators had not leaked any investigative secrets in the first place, the media would only have been able to report based on extremely limited information. The key to successfully implementing the principle of non-publicity of investigation lies in whether prosecutors, police, and investigators can strictly abide by legal regulations and refrain from leaking investigative secrets. Only by guarding investigative secrets at the source can the non-publicity of investigations truly be realized.

Photo: The Judicial Reform Foundation, alongside Mr. Lü Ping-hung, submits a petition to members of the Control Yuan

At the conclusion of the press conference, the Judicial Reform Foundation, together with Mr. Lü Ping-hung, submitted a petition to the members of the Control Yuan, requesting them to investigate the illegal conduct of prosecutors, police, and investigators involved in these two cases—specifically their violations of the principle of non-publicity of investigation and unauthorized public statements—to hold them accountable, and to call for a comprehensive review of the implementation of the non-publicity of investigations in Taiwan.

Appendix

Open Letter from Kuo Mei-lan's Brother: On the Long Road of Judicial Reform, Our Sister, Kuo Mei-lan, Will Never Be Absent

Attending Representatives

Mr. Lü Ping-hung / Victim of the Mama Mouth Case
Attorney Shih Hung-ch'eng / Convener of the Non-Publicity of Investigation Committee, Judicial Reform Foundation
Attorney Huang Ying-chia / Legal Director, Judicial Reform Foundation
Attorney Ch'en Yü-t'ing / Staff Attorney, Judicial Reform Foundation
Attorney Ch'en Yü-fan / Executive Director, Judicial Reform Foundation

Press Contact

Attorney Ch'en Yü-fan / Executive Director, Judicial Reform Foundation (02)2523-1178