A 42-year-old Taiwanese divorcee was ordered to pay compensation of NT$450,000 (US$14,560) at New Taipei District Court after pleading guilty to having a sexual relationship with an underage girl.
The accused had coached the girl at baseball for three years, and their sexual relations began when she was only 12 years old. The judge failed to impose a more stringent punishment because he ruled that they were genuinely in love.
The defendant surnamed Huang, a renowned baseball coach, was hired by a primary school in New Taipei City in September 2014. Around this time he met the then 12-year-old victim, the Taiwan Apple Daily News reported.
It happened that Huang knew the girl’s parents personally, and he gained the parents’ trust by referring the girl as his goddaughter.
The court learned that the pair were intimate and had engaged in penetrative sex a total of 91 times, during 73 of which the girl was 14 years or below. The sex took place at the girl’s home, the defendant’s home or in his vehicle, and in hotel rooms when they were on trips.
The relationship was exposed when the victim’s mother arrived home to find the pair having sex in the girl’s bed.
Despite the fact that the court agreed it severely affected the victim’s physical and psychological well-being, the judge ruled that the pair were genuinely in love and that Huang was remorseful over his wrongdoings. Huang reportedly reconciled with the victim’s family and agreed to pay NT$450,000 in compensation.
He was given a three-year prison sentence, which was suspended for five years on condition Huang does not re-offend. Meanwhile he will be obligated to perform 200 hours of community service and to attend compulsory counselling for four hours.