Taiwan.. Woman Sentenced to Jail for Using Loudspeaker to Insult Neighbors at Night

A court in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, sentenced a woman known by the family name "Chen" to three months in prison after she was convicted of deliberately causing annoyance to her neighbors by using a loudspeaker during late-night hours.
According to local media reports cited by Eram News, the ruling allows the defendant to substitute the prison term by paying a fine of 90,000 Taiwanese dollars, equivalent to about 3,600 US dollars.

Details of the Incident

The events of the case date back to May 2023, when Chen installed a sound amplification device on her balcony and began broadcasting offensive phrases and insults directed at several neighbors with whom she had disputes. Investigations revealed that these actions occurred at least three times a week, lasting several minutes and at a high volume.
The noise did not only affect the directly targeted individuals but extended to dozens of families in the residential area, causing a state of continuous disturbance and nighttime disruption for the residents.

Attempts at Resolution and Their Failure

Reports indicated that the neighbors attempted for nearly two years to resolve the dispute through dialogue and understanding, but those efforts yielded no results. Ultimately, a large number of residents filed a collective complaint to the police, leading to the case being referred to the judiciary.

Defendant's Admission and Defense

During the trial sessions, Chen admitted to using the loudspeaker to insult her neighbors but attempted to justify her actions by claiming that the noise coming from them deprived her of rest and sleep, asserting that her use of the loudspeaker was not constant but rather at specific times.

Rationale of the Ruling

The court found that the defendant's actions were deliberate and repeated, and that using sound amplification equipment during nighttime hours exceeded the bounds of socially acceptable behavior, considering it a serious violation of residents' right to a quiet living environment.
Local authorities emphasized that the ruling sends a clear message that deliberate noise harassment is a legal violation that warrants criminal accountability, urging affected individuals to report such behaviors immediately to maintain community peace.