Taipei: Prosecutors on Wednesday detained the chairman of a cosmetic surgery chain after a pinhole camera was allegedly discovered in a smoke detector at its Banqiao branch. The New Taipei City Prosecutors' Office instructed police to search multiple branches of Airlee Group Co., Ltd., including Banqiao, Xinzhuang, Linkou, and Yonghe, and detained Chairman Chang Ju-shan in an office building in Taipei for questioning.
According to Focus Taiwan, the raids followed a May 2 post on Threads in which a customer claimed to have spotted a device on the ceiling resembling a smoke detector while changing clothes in a private treatment room at Airlee's Banqiao branch. The woman alleged that the smoke detector concealed a recording device. Although clinic staff insisted it was just a smoke detector, she reported the matter to the police. Upon returning with officers, they found a recording device connected to a power source inside the smoke detector. However, the operational status of the camera could not be verified.
New Taipei City prosecutors conducted raids on other branches in the city on Sunday and detained a surveillance equipment supplier surnamed Hsieh, who was released after questioning. Prosecutors are investigating the case for suspected violations of sexual privacy and personal privacy.
On Tuesday, Taipei City health department officials, consumer ombudsmen, and police conducted unannounced joint inspections of four Airlee branches in the city. They reportedly found no recording devices or violations at those locations. Airlee stated that all surveillance systems are intended to ensure the quality of medical services and facility safety, asserting that they do not infringe on customer privacy and will cooperate fully with the investigation.
Liu Yu-ching, a senior official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), emphasized that medical institutions and their staff cannot disclose patient information related to illnesses or health conditions without cause. Additionally, medical providers must obtain patient consent before making any audio or video recordings, as stipulated under the Medical Care Act. Violations can result in fines ranging from NT$50,000 (US$1,593) to NT$250,000.