Khaberni - A court in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, recently sentenced a woman with the last name "Chen" to 3 months in prison after she harassed her neighbors using a loudspeaker during the late hours.
According to local newspapers, the woman’s sentence can be converted to a fine amounting to 90,000 New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 3,600 US Dollars).
The case dates back to May 2023, when Chen installed a loudspeaker on her balcony and began loudly cursing at several neighbors she had disputes with. These nighttime broadcasts, occurring at least three times a week, lasted several minutes at maximum volume, causing disturbance not only to the targeted neighbors but also to dozens of other families in the surrounding area.
The residents endured these annoyances for nearly two years, trying to negotiate with Chen to no avail. Eventually, dozens of neighbors filed a collective complaint with the local police, leading to the trial.
During the trial, Chen admitted to using the loudspeaker to insult her neighbors but claimed she only did it occasionally, arguing that her neighbors’ noise prevented her from resting properly.
The court ruled that Chen's deliberate and repeated use of amplification equipment during nighttime hours exceeded what is considered reasonable or acceptable in society, and her actions were deemed a serious violation of public peace deserving criminal punishment.
The authorities emphasize that residents have the right to a peaceful living environment and urged those affected to report such violations immediately. Chen's sentence serves as a reminder that deliberate sound harassment is not a trivial matter and will face legal consequences.
