Brutal Bullying Case at Taiwan's Juvenile Detention Center: Eight-Year Sentence in Second Trial

A harrowing account of a 2020 group bullying incident at a detention center in Taoyuan, Taiwan, involving forced consumption of contaminated food and sexual assault.

In 2020, a disturbing case of group bullying unfolded within the walls of the Taoyuan Juvenile Detention Center in Taiwan, formerly known as the Taoyuan Juvenile Observation Center. This brutal incident involved a 17-year-old detainee subjected to horrific acts by four older inmates, aged 19.

The perpetrators forced the young detainee to consume food mixed with cleaning products, toothpaste, and urine. The abuse escalated to forcing the victim to eat cockroaches and sexual assault with a toothbrush. The primary instigator, identified as a man surnamed Zhan, was initially sentenced to 8 years and 4 months in the first trial. Following an appeal, the High Court reduced the sentence to 8 years.

The incident, which occurred in May 2020, involved the victim being housed with the older inmates, including one who was a defendant in a murder case. The abuse began with Zhan and others forcing the victim to drink a concoction of leftover food mixed with dish soap, facial cleanser, toothpaste, and urine. The victim was also forced to drink a bottle of urine. The abuse continued with the victim forced to insert a piece of pastry into his anus and was then forced to be sexually assaulted with a toothbrush by another inmate under duress.

Following the incident, the victim reported the abuse to his mother, leading to legal action and significant public outcry. The other perpetrators received the following sentences in the first trial: Chen was sentenced to 7 years and 8 months, Peng was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months, and Luo was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months. Their cases are currently under appeal. Additionally, the Control Yuan investigated the matter and issued recommendations for improvements to the Judicial Yuan, the Ministry of Justice, and the Taoyuan Juvenile Detention Center in 2022.