[Sportschosun, Jang Jong-ho] In Taiwan, a court has imposed fines and recognized damages liability in a case involving a wife who suspected her husband of cheating and went to the other woman's workplace with five friends to publicly humiliate and film her.
According to ETtoday and other Taiwanese media, a woman identified as A, who lives in Tainan, called five friends and went to an office building to confront a woman named Xiaolin, whom she suspected of having an affair with her husband.
Investigators found that the group surrounded Xiaolin in the lobby of the company where she worked, followed her continuously, and blocked her from moving.
Three of the friends reportedly filmed Xiaolin on their phones, while A loudly accused her of being a "homewrecker" and said she had "slept with my husband."
Xiaolin later claimed that rumors labeling her an "affair woman" spread at work after the incident, causing her severe emotional distress.
She said, "Even the sound of the office phone ringing made me feel anxious and terrified, and whenever I saw places where people were gathered, I was afraid I would be harassed again," describing the psychological harm she suffered.
Xiaolin then filed criminal and civil lawsuits against A and her friends, seeking damages of 200,000 New Taiwan dollars (about 956,000 won) from each of them.
In the criminal trial, the court found all six women guilty of Joint coercion. A, who led the incident, was fined 7,000 New Taiwan dollars (about 33,000 won), while each of the five friends was fined 5,000 New Taiwan dollars (about 24,000 won).
In the civil trial, the court also acknowledged part of the victim's emotional damage. A was ordered to pay 10,000 New Taiwan dollars, and each of the five friends was ordered to pay 5,000 New Taiwan dollars. The civil ruling, however, is set to be appealed.
Meanwhile, it remains unknown whether Xiaolin was actually having an affair with A's husband.
Jang Jong-ho, bellho@sportschosun.com
