Kaohsiung City, Taiwan — September 6, 2025
An inspection at the Sanmin First Police Precinct in Kaohsiung revealed that a freezer designated for storing criminal evidence was instead being used to keep frozen food, including a large bag of dumplings, prompting disciplinary action against several officers.
According to the Kaohsiung City Police Department, a female inspector visited the precinct’s investigation team late last month as part of routine supervision. During the inspection, she discovered that the freezer meant for safeguarding sensitive evidence such as blood samples, body fluids, tissues, and trace materials was nearly full—not with evidence, but with personal food items belonging to officers.
Police guidelines strictly prohibit the storage of anything other than case-related evidence in these facilities, as improper use could risk contamination. Senior officers explained that evidence freezers typically preserve biological materials, drug samples, or items collected from crime scenes, such as cigarette butts, betel nut remnants, or chewing gum.
The Sanmin First Police Station later admitted that the freezer in question had not been used for evidence storage in some time. As a result, staff mistakenly assumed it could be treated as a standard freezer for personal use.
Following an internal review, the precinct issued a warning to the evidence room manager. In addition, the team leader, deputy team leader, and supervising officials were found to have neglected their oversight responsibilities and were held administratively accountable.
The police department emphasized that corrective measures have been implemented to ensure compliance with regulations governing the handling and storage of criminal evidence.
