Father sentenced for beating son with belt after defiance

A father in Nantou County, Taiwan, has been sentenced to 80 days of detention for intentionally harming his teenage son. The court found the man guilty of assault after he used a belt to strike his son multiple times following an argument.

The incident occurred on the evening of November 3rd last year when the 40-something father, identified by the surname Lin, became angry after his junior high school son talked back to him. In a fit of rage, Lin retrieved his belt and proceeded to whip his son's legs, back, and chest. The assault left the son with bruises on his inner lip, redness on his chest and back, and multiple contusions on his thighs.

Lin's wife, unable to dissuade her husband, immediately took their injured son to the hospital for medical attention and to obtain a medical certificate. The following day, the son, still upset about the physical abuse and the visible injuries, decided to press charges against his father. Accompanied by his mother, he reported the domestic violence incident to the police.

Although domestic violence laws in Taiwan do not carry specific penalties for such acts, the Nantou District Prosecutors Office indicted Lin under the criminal code for assault. The court further applied Article 112, Paragraph 1 of the "Children and Youth Welfare and Rights Protection Act," which allows for enhanced penalties when a minor is intentionally harmed by an adult. The judge considered that Lin did not attempt peaceful communication and intentionally caused injury to a minor with a belt, despite admitting to the act. Crucially, Lin failed to reach a settlement or reconciliation with his son, leading to the 80-day detention sentence for intentional assault against a juvenile.