A forensic-investigation squad leader in the Taipei City Criminal Investigation Corps has been sought for detention by prosecutors and ordered held incommunicado by a judge over allegations of leaking members of the public's personal data and suspected paid favours — another heavy blow to the image of the police.

• The forensic-investigation squad leader, Chen Kuan-liang, was found to have repeatedly accessed classified information unrelated to his cases, with dozens of pieces of personal data all flowing to a real-estate agent surnamed Wu.
• Investigators believe there may have been a quid pro quo between the two, involving offences under corruption, leaking secrets and the Personal Data Protection Act.
• Wu was Chen's early-career "mentor" at the Criminal Investigation Bureau; after leaving the force he moved into real estate and is suspected of privately asking his former subordinate to help look into other people's backgrounds.
• Out of old loyalty, Chen could not bring himself to refuse, and in the end brought harm upon himself; the Criminal Investigation Corps has already recorded two major demerits against him at once and requested his dismissal and removal.
• The Taipei District Prosecutors Office directed the ethics, inspection and Criminal Investigation Corps units to conduct searches and arrests; the two were transferred to prosecutors last night and, after a detention hearing this afternoon, were taken into custody and held incommunicado.

Outlook: The case has entered the investigation stage, and the details of the money flows and the quid pro quo will be clarified going forward, which may implicate more people and more instances.