A New Taipei City court has ordered a woman, who owns a fried chicken shop, to pay NT$200,000 in damages to the wife of a married man with whom she had an affair. The woman, surnamed Zeng, met the man through a hiking club, and their extramarital relationship reportedly lasted over two years, with more than 70 instances of sexual activity.
The case came to light in February last year when the husband’s wife discovered flirtatious messages and photos exchanged between her husband and Zeng. She confronted her husband, who admitted to the affair and later signed a declaration promising not to meet or contact Zeng again.
The wife claimed that Zeng knowingly engaged in a relationship with a married man, repeatedly having sexual relations with him, and thus violated her marital rights, causing her significant emotional distress. She initially sought NT$800,000 in compensation.
Zeng argued that she and the husband were merely friends from the hiking club, using playful language such as “dear” among members, and that any close physical contact occurred naturally during hiking activities. She also highlighted her daily responsibilities running her business, asserting that she did not intentionally infringe on the marital relationship.
The court reviewed conversations between the husband and wife, which clearly indicated that sexual activity had occurred between the husband and Zeng. The husband also admitted to the affair and acknowledged informing Zeng that he was married.
Taking into account the nature of the relationship, the impact on the wife, and the circumstances of the parties involved, the judge ruled that Zeng’s actions had materially harmed the marital relationship and caused substantial emotional distress to the wife. Consequently, the court ordered Zeng to pay NT$200,000 in damages.
