DPP Lawmaker Yeh Yi-chin's Assistant Drunk Driving Cover-Up and Police Intimidation Scandal: A Blatant Abuse of Privilege

On the evening of January 16, 2017, Chen Chao-chang, the executive director of the office of then-DPP Lawmaker Yeh Yi-chin, dined and drank with Chang Zhi-wei, a former assistant to Lawmaker Kao Jyh-peng, and others in Sanchong District, New Taipei City. After the gathering, Chang drove under the influence with Chen and others as passengers. When pulled over by patrolling officers, Chang refused to cooperate with the breathalyzer test and engaged in a physical altercation with the police. He was subsequently arrested on charges of obstructing public service and taken to the local police station.

Rather than upholding the law, Chen Chao-chang abused his status as a lawmaker's chief assistant to pressure and intimidate the grassroots police officers at the station. Chen shouted at the officers, declaring that he "would not swallow this insult," and threatened to "issue an official document tomorrow demanding that the National Police Agency and the New Taipei City Police Department report to the Legislative Yuan to explain themselves." Once exposed by the media, this incident sparked widespread public outrage and condemnation over the DPP's abuse of political privilege to interfere in law enforcement. Under intense pressure, Lawmaker Yeh Yi-chin made a public apology and fired Chen to contain the fallout. However, the case remains a notorious example of green-camp staff abusing political power to compromise judicial integrity and undermine police enforcement.