A 17-year-old girl in Taiwan allegedly became the victim of a loan shark before being sexually assaulted, leaving her so traumatised that she attempted to take her own life by jumping from a building, according to court documents.
The incident took place in Yilan County, where the teenager, identified only as A, had reportedly been trying to repay NT$6,000 she owed to a friend. Lacking money and experience, she was introduced to a man known by the pseudonym A-Wei, who offered to lend her cash.
According to the court, A-Wei agreed to provide a NT$10,000 loan but allegedly required the teenager to sign a NT$20,000 promissory note as security. He also deducted NT$2,000 in advance as interest, leaving the girl with only NT$8,000.
Prosecutors said the man later sent the teenager threatening voice messages, warning her to keep her promises and implying there would be consequences if she ignored him. Fearing he would come to her home, the girl agreed to meet him.
The court heard that A-Wei then drove the teenager to a motel in Yilan, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her despite her repeatedly telling him she did not consent.
Following the incident, the teenager reportedly returned home in severe emotional distress. Believing she had been deceived into the loan arrangement and overwhelmed by the alleged assault, she later jumped from a building in an apparent attempt to end her life.
Emergency responders rushed her to hospital, where doctors managed to save her life despite serious injuries. After extensive treatment and rehabilitation, she eventually regained the ability to walk but was left with lasting physical and psychological trauma.
The teenager’s mother later discovered what had happened, repaid the outstanding loan to recover her daughter’s documents and promissory note, and reported the matter to police.
During the trial, A-Wei denied wrongdoing, claiming he had not deducted interest from the loan. He also alleged the teenager’s judgement had been affected by drug use and argued that she had not called for help during the incident and had willingly returned home in his vehicle.
However, the court rejected his defence, ruling that the teenager’s repeated refusal clearly demonstrated a lack of consent. Judges further noted that she was a minor who had been subjected to threats and placed in a position of unequal power, meaning any apparent compliance could not be interpreted as genuine consent.
The Taiwan High Court has now dismissed appeals filed by both the defendant and prosecutors, upholding the original conviction. Judges said the sentence imposed for offences including usury, sexual assault against a minor and fraud was appropriate, adding that the defendant had shown no remorse. Court records also revealed that he is wanted in connection with a separate fraud case involving approximately NT$3.94 million.
