Father acquitted after ex-wife claims threats in private messages to son

A father in Taiwan has been acquitted of making threats after sending messages to his son complaining about the boy's mother. The messages, which expressed frustration over visitation issues, were later shown to the ex-wife, who then filed a complaint.

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Don't let your mother bring about her own ruin, Dad gave her a chance.

The case centered on messages sent via a messaging app late at night. The father, identified by the surname Chen, wrote to his son, "Don't let your mother bring about her own ruin, Dad gave her a chance," and "I can't guarantee what kind of irreparable harm your mother will suffer." The son, feeling scared by the language, showed the conversation to his mother.

His ex-wife reported the messages, stating she felt threatened and feared for her personal safety. Prosecutors indicted Chen, arguing he should have known his messages would reach his ex-wife, given the son's age and cohabitation. However, Chen maintained that the messages were private expressions of his longing to see his son more often, not intended as threats.

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I can't guarantee what kind of irreparable harm your mother will suffer.

The court in Tainan found that the legal requirements for a threat charge were not met. Specifically, the law requires a direct communication of intent to harm to the victim or a clear instruction for a third party to relay the threat. The judge noted that the son, being a minor, possessed independent judgment and that there was no evidence Chen explicitly asked his son to forward the messages. Without proof of Chen's intent to communicate harm directly to the ex-wife, the court ruled in his favor, upholding the principle of presumed innocence.

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The judge noted that the son, being a minor, possessed independent judgment and that there was no evidence Chen explicitly asked his son to forward the messages.