TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A conscript accused of burning the flag of Nauru after the Pacific Island nation switched recognition to China returned home Saturday (April 6), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

Nauru announced the switch on Jan. 15, just two days after Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections, leaving Taipei with just 12 official diplomatic allies. As staff at the Taiwan embassy prepared to leave, they followed the common practice of destroying sensitive documents to preserve diplomatic and business secrets.

However, a magazine alleged that staff had also burned a Nauru flag during the process. An investigation by MOFA showed the claims were false but a conscript accused of the flag burning was prevented from leaving the country.

Police conducted an investigation, while MOFA appointed a lawyer to assist the conscript, per CNA. He remained free and was allowed to communicate freely with the outside world, while a Taiwanese national assisted him.

With the judicial process having run its course, the man was allowed to leave Nauru. He arrived in Taiwan early Saturday morning accompanied by a MOFA representative, the ministry said.