Posted on 03/31/2004 2:17:49 PM PST by Khurkris
TAIPEI, Taiwan,
A Buddhist abbot was convicted again of sexually harassing at least 25 novice boys and sentenced to 12 years in prison yesterday.
In a written verdict, a Taiwan high court judge upheld the conviction of Hsu Chih-hao, 40, by the Taipei district court and ordered him to be placed under detention for three years in a correction center.
The three-year detention precedes Hsu's serving the 12-year sentence.
He may appeal to the Supreme Court.
The district court sentenced Hsu, known as Tri Chih-hao in his Buddhist name, to 12 years in jail on February 21, 2001.
Hsu was arrested on July 26, 2000, for molesting 25 of the 31 boys under his care at the Triratana (Three Treasures) Abbey at Hsichih, a city a couple of miles north of Taipei.
All the boys, ranging in age from 10 to 14, were orphans or delinquents their parents did not want.
Hsu was indicted on August 27, 2000.
The prosecution charged the Buddhist abbot with forcing the novices to have oral and anal sex with him. It demanded a sentence of 12 years' imprisonment, which was granted after a trial.
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