Taiwanese Court Rules on Infidelity: Affair Leads to Financial Compensation

A case in Taoyuan highlights the complexities of marital relationships and extramarital affairs.

In a recent ruling from a court in Taoyuan, Taiwan, a man successfully sued his wife and her colleague for damages related to an alleged affair. The husband claimed that his wife, identified as 小花 (Xiao Hua, pseudonym), engaged in an inappropriate relationship with her male colleague, 阿強 (A Qiang, pseudonym).

The husband's accusations included claims of intimate physical contact, specifically mentioning that 小花 wore a thin-strapped top and rested her head on 阿強's chest. He further alleged that 小花 had an abortion, causing significant emotional distress, and sought NT$2 million in compensation. However, the court found no direct evidence linking 阿強 to the abortion.

The husband presented video evidence showing 小花 and 阿強 in a close embrace, with 小花 resting her head on 阿強's chest and arm. The couple did not deny the intimacy, but instead claimed there were others present. The court determined that their behavior exceeded the boundaries of a standard colleague relationship, infringing on the husband's marital rights.

小花 maintained that she and 阿強 were only colleagues and that the abortion was performed due to medical concerns and with her husband's knowledge. 阿強 also denied any romantic involvement. The court, considering the evidence, ordered 小花 and 阿強 to jointly pay the husband NT$80,000 in compensation. The decision is subject to appeal.