Temple Master Sentenced to 25 Years for 39 Counts of Sexual Assault Under Guise of Spiritual Healing in Yilan

(Central News Agency, reporter Wang Chaoyu, Yilan, 8th) A man surnamed Huang, who operated a temple in Yilan, was convicted of exploiting a female follower's deep belief in spirits and her vulnerable physical and mental state. He falsely claimed she was 'possessed by spirits' and had a 'hole in her soul,' requiring sexual intercourse as a treatment for 'energy transfer' and 'energy replenishment.' He sexually assaulted the woman 39 times. After trial, the Yilan District Court sentenced Huang to 25 years in prison.

According to the verdict of the Yilan District Court, Huang established a temple in Yilan around 2015, dedicated to the Wang Ye deity. The victim, suffering from poor physical and mental health and suspecting she was haunted by ghosts, sought his consultation through an acquaintance. Huang claimed the woman had a special constitution with a 'black order' and was 'possessed by spirits' that needed to be dealt with, otherwise her life would be in danger. He performed a 'ritual' and made her drink talisman water.

In 2020, the woman fell and injured her neck. She and her husband visited Huang again. Huang claimed that after consulting with the Wang Ye deity, the woman had a 'hole in her soul' that required a special method of 'energy transfer' and 'energy replenishment' for treatment, and that the husband could not be present. He then forcibly had intercourse with the woman. Subsequently, he sexually assaulted her 39 times on the same pretext. The woman eventually reported the case to the police due to immense physical and mental stress, leading to the exposure of the case.

During the trial, Huang denied the charges, arguing that the sexual intercourse treatment was proposed by the husband after careful consideration by the couple, and that the woman subsequently kept requesting such treatment. He claimed the prosecutor's facts were untrue and that the sexual acts were consensual.

The collegiate panel found that the woman, being deeply superstitious and suffering from a neck injury, was in a state of physical pain and psychological helplessness. She firmly believed Huang's claims about being 'possessed by spirits' and having a 'hole in her soul' requiring 'energy transfer' and 'energy replenishment.' She could only endure and comply with Huang's demands, which did not constitute a state of mutual affection or consent.

The panel ruled that Huang used supernatural claims to suppress the woman's rational thinking, forcing her to make a decision to engage in sexual intercourse that was detrimental to herself. This violated her will and constituted a criminal offense. The court also cited the woman's diary and handwritten records as supporting evidence, dismissing Huang's defense as an attempt to shirk responsibility. After trial, on May 27, the court sentenced Huang to 3 years and 6 months for each of the 39 counts of forcible sexual intercourse, with a combined sentence of 25 years. The case can be appealed. (Editor: Cai Jiamin) 1150608