The Supreme Court today rejected an appeal by a taekwondo coach convicted of committing sexual assault and taking indecent pictures of underage girls, upholding the High Court’s decision sentencing him to 26 years in prison.
The taekwondo coach, surnamed Lu (呂), was convicted of sexually assaulting and taking indecent pictures of 11 young female students — with the youngest being seven — in his dojo totaling 109 instances in three years since 2019.
Photo: Taipei Times
Lu at first denied committing any of the acts, alleging that he had been wrongly accused because of business disputes, until investigators recovered deleted photographs.
He later admitted to some of the acts, but said he did not do it “so many times.”
During the first trial earlier this year, the New Taipei District Court said that although he apologized to the victims’ parents, he blamed the victims for their conduct and misbehavior, and stressed that his “punishment” had been meted out with the victims’ consent.
The district court said he did not regret his actions, which seriously impacted the victims’ physical and mental health and personal growth.
He was sentenced to 29 years and six months in his first trial for 109 criminal counts, with each carrying more than three years in prison.
The total prison term of more than 300 years is to be run concurrently.
Lu later filed an appeal with the High Court, admitting his guilt for everything he was accused of in hopes of getting a shorter prison term.
The High Court said the victims had been coerced by Lu’s power and status as a coach and were not “seduced or willing” to take the indecent photos.
Lu was sentenced under the Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act (兒童及少年性剝削防制條例), the High Court said, handing him 26 years in prison.
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