Three men jailed for assaulting and humiliating man over suspected drugging

A court has sentenced three men to two months in prison for a violent assault and humiliation of another man they suspected of drugging a female companion. The incident occurred in a dance hall when the suspects, identified by their surnames Chen and Huang, confronted the victim.

During the ordeal, the three men repeatedly slapped the victim's face, causing bruising. They also choked him and struck his head and neck with extreme force. The humiliation extended to forcing the victim to consume betel nut dregs from a table and stripping him of his pants in front of others. The suspects also seized his phone to browse its contents.

Under duress, the victim was forced to sign three promissory notes, each for 1.5 million New Taiwan dollars, intended as compensation for the woman. After nearly two hours of torment, the victim sought medical attention and reported the incident to the police. Surveillance footage helped investigators reconstruct the private punishment.

The judge stated that the men's actions constituted continuous offenses, combining assault, coercion, and intimidation. The court found their resort to violence and threats instead of rational dispute resolution unacceptable, causing the victim physical injury and significant psychological distress. While the men admitted guilt and expressed a willingness to reconcile, a settlement was not reached as the victim withdrew mediation. The prison sentences can be commuted to fines.