A private tutor in Taichung surnamed Weng (翁) who sexually assaulted an elementary school girl in 2023 will serve three years and eight years in prison for forcible indecency after his guilty verdict was finalized by the Supreme Court today.
Weng had appealed his original sentence from his first and second trials, but his appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court today, finalizing the ruling.
The victim was taking classes at a private math tutoring center which Weng operated in Taichung, the court said in its ruling.
Photo: Chang Wen-chuan, Taipei Times
The female student attended classes twice a week from March 2022, but due to an increased workload, Weng asked the parents to reschedule one of her Friday lessons to Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, the court said.
On that evening when Weng and the student were alone in the classroom, Weng first groped the girl's waist and gradually moved closer to her, before reaching inside her clothes and touching her breasts, it said.
Weng stopped when the girl struggled and protested, it added.
When the girl’s mother picked her up that evening, her daughter appeared visibly distressed and after continually asking her what was wrong, the girl told her of the assault, the court said.
The mother reported the incident to the Taichung City Police Department, who pressed charges against Weng for forcible indecency.
During the trial, Weng said that it is difficult to avoid physical contact during classes and denied touching the girl's chest.
His defense lawyer said that as the girl often did not complete her homework, the teacher would tickle her as encouragement, during which he may have accidentally touched her breasts.
The case's first and second trials found that Weng was guilty and had seriously harmed the girl’s physical and mental development, molested a child and contravened public order.
The offense was found to be severe and Weng did not admit guilt or show remorse, the court said in its ruling.
He instead made excuses, shirked responsibility and, until now, has not offered compensation to the victim or her family, it said.
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