By KHT Staff. AI image for illustration only.
KAOHSIUNG — A woman’s infidelity was uncovered after her daughter borrowed her mobile phone to complete schoolwork, leading to a court ruling ordering the mother and her lover to pay NT$500,000 in damages.
Adultery is not a criminal offense in Taiwan anymore, but spouses can sue in civil courts for damages due to emotional distress, infringement on rights, etc.
The Liberty Times reports that the plaintiff, a man surnamed Lin (林), filed a lawsuit seeking NT$700,000 after his daughter discovered incriminating evidence on his wife’s phone in April 2024. While using the device for homework, the daughter found LINE chat records containing romantic messages such as “Baby, I love you” and “I miss you,” along with several explicit audio recordings from a motel.
The court found that the recordings documented clear “physical impact” sounds, heavy breathing, and lewd commentary.
The defendants, Lin’s wife and a man identified by the pseudonym Da Yong (大勇), denied having an affair during proceedings at the Kaohsiung District Court. The wife claimed she only sought emotional support from Da Yong due to her husband’s poor credit and neglect of the family, describing their relationship as “best friends.”
Da Yong argued that a physical affair was impossible because he suffered from an enlarged prostate and erectile dysfunction. He claimed their visits to the motel were strictly for massages and to have the wife “pop his pimples.”
However, the presiding judge rejected these claims after consulting with medical experts and reviewing the audio evidence. The judge ruled that the defendants’ excuses contradicted common sense and social experience. Based on the degree of infringement upon the husband’s marital rights, the court ordered the pair to pay NT$500,000 jointly. The case remains eligible for appeal.
