Kaohsiung Man Acquitted of Sexual Assault Charges, Awarded NT$120,000 Compensation

Central News Agency, Kaohsiung, May 29: A man surnamed Chen in Kaohsiung, who was accused by his ex-wife of forcing her to take nude photos and committing sexual assault, was acquitted after 40 days of detention. Chen applied for criminal compensation, and the Kaohsiung District Court awarded him NT$120,000, considering the damage to his reputation and mental distress. The court ruling stated that Chen and his ex-wife divorced in September 2024 but remained in contact. In January 2025, the ex-wife accused Chen of forcing her to take nude photos, video chat with a male classmate while naked, and committing sexual assault. However, after reviewing police body camera footage, the court found that the ex-wife did not appear to be under duress and remained calm. Furthermore, her testimony was inconsistent, and there was no evidence of sexual assault. Chen was detained for 40 days from January 11 to February 19, 2025. The court ruled that detention is a severe infringement on personal freedom and, considering Chen's background, awarded him NT$3,000 per day, totaling NT$120,000.