- TAIPEI - A group of 60 Taiwanese
judges and lawyers concluded during an annual gathering that oral sex should
not be regarded as intercourse, and therefore does not constitute adultery.
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- Although judges are not bound by the conclusion, it
can be used as a reference in future cases, reported the Taipei Times.
-
- 'Since there is no law that clearly states whether oral
sex is a form of intercourse, judges still possess full authorisation to
make their own decisions during trials,' said a spokesman for the Taiwan
High Court, Mr Tsai Kuo-tsai.
-
- 'Whatever decision these participants came up with during
the meeting will only be a reference for judges when they handle similar
cases in the future,' he added.
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- He said the closed-door gathering last week was a chance
for judges and lawyers to discuss controversial issues.
-
- A Taipei judge, who wished to remain anonymous, told
the Taipei Times that the conclusion would influence decisions in future
trials.
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- He suggested that the Criminal Code be amended to state
clearly that oral sex constitutes sexual intercourse.
-
- 'It doesn't solve problems, it creates problems,' he
said.
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- A judge from the Shihlin District Court had questioned
during the discussions whether oral sex could be used as evidence of a
spouse's marital infidelity in adultery cases.
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- Adultery is a crime in Taiwan that carries a jail term
of at least six months, which can be converted to fines.
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- The judge cited a case where a woman and her married
lover were caught in the act by the man's wife, said the English-language
newspaper.
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- Forty-nine of the 60 participants supported the view
that intercourse means genital-to-genital contact, thus oral sex is not
intercourse.
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- But the opposing camp said that sexual intercourse should
refer to any form of genital contact.
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- http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg
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