Taiwan: spirit medium convicted for telling a client that talismans inside her body would kill her

Proceedings

1. 2026-07-01 · conviction and sentence; appealable

   Taitung District Court, Taiwan. A 22-year-old temple operator working as a 乩身 (spirit medium) was convicted in July 2026 of forced sexual intercourse and sentenced to four years and eight months, for telling an adult female client that talismans were lodged inside her body and that she would die unless sexual acts removed them. Her family waited outside the door during the assault.

Documented coercion mechanisms

• claim that talismans 符咒 were inside her body and she would die unless sexual acts removed them
• the ritual frame neutralising her family, who waited outside the door