Taiwanese Father Acquitted of Assaulting Minor Amid Testimony Inconsistencies

A father accused of indecently assaulting a minor has been acquitted by the Tainan District Court, with judges citing a lack of conclusive evidence and significant contradictions in the accuser's statements. The case involved allegations that the man touched a minor with disabilities in a temple's game area.

During police questioning, the accused's son had suggested his father might have committed the act due to cognitive decline and a lack of other outlets, as a favorite eatery had closed. This statement was initially considered by prosecutors as supporting evidence. However, the son later clarified in court that he was not present during the incident and his earlier remarks were mere subjective speculation, not based on direct observation.

Adding to the defense's argument, surveillance footage did not capture the alleged touching. The defense also contested the prosecution's interpretation of screenshots, arguing that the victim's posture after entering the game area was not unique to the alleged incident and could not be definitively linked to the accusations.

The court found critical inconsistencies in the victim's testimony. Initially, the victim reportedly stated the assault occurred while riding a bicycle, but later changed the account to sitting on a chair during the trial. At one point, the victim even denied being touched at all. Given these discrepancies and the lack of corroborating evidence, the court applied the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty,' leading to the acquittal.