The head of the technology investigation squad in Taipei City's Criminal Investigation Corps is suspected of leaking members of the public's personal data to a retired police officer, and prosecutors' request to detain him incommunicado has been granted — a heavy blow to the image of the police force.

• Tech-investigation squad leader Chen Kuan-liang is accused of helping a retired police officer who works in real-estate brokerage look up personal data, allegedly taking money to get the job done.

• The two worked together at the Criminal Investigation Bureau in earlier years and had a mentor–apprentice relationship; after retiring, Wu moved into real-estate brokerage and asked his former colleague to help look up information.

• The Taipei District Prosecutors Office directed searches and brought the two in for questioning, finding that they were suspected of corruption, leaking secrets, and violating the Personal Data Protection Act, and that there was a risk of collusion and flight.

• The Taipei City Police Department has already convened a performance-review committee and will record two major demerits against Chen and dismiss him, stressing that it is resolutely weeding him out to preserve the police force's reputation.

Outlook: Prosecutors will continue to trace where the personal data went and whether money was taken to get the work done, investigating the entire case in a stringent direction.