Touching your girlfriend isn’t generally considered a punishable offence, but things change considerably when your date for the day is a rental.

A Taiwanese university student learned that the hard way, after getting a bit too close to a girlfriends he had rented by the hour, and getting sentenced to jail for it. In July of 2019, the boy, identified only as ‘Chen’, paid 7,200 Taiwanese dollars ($260) to rent a girlfriend for three hours, from a company called “Love Acting-Extra”. The service had very specific rules detailing what the client was allowed to to with his rented girlfriend, but also what was forbidden. Unfortunately for Chen, he got carried away, and paid a steep price for it…

Photo: Giang Vu/Unsplash

People renting services are nothing new. We’ve actually featured numerous examples from countries like Japan and China, including extreme ones like that of a single mom who rented a father for her child over many years. Taiwan’s Love Acting Extra, is no different, allowing people to rent paid actors to play all kinds of roles, from lovers, to parents and even simple friends to talk to. But at the end of the day, it’s only a service with that sets important boundaries.

In Chen’s case, there was a contract he agreed to sign before placing his order with Love Acting-Extra. It mentioned that the client was allowed to hold the hand of the rented girlfriend, stroke her hair, and even hug her, but also placed specific boundaries. He was not allowed to try and kiss his girlfriend, or touch her in any way that could be considered inappropriate.

On August 2nd, 2019, Chen and his rented girlfriend met at Taipei Main Station for their scheduled 3-hour date. Everything started out smoothly, the two dined at at fast-food restaurant, and then went for a stroll in Da’an Forest Park. It was here that things started going south. Chen started talking weird, at one point telling the girl “I will kidnap you”, and making inappropriate remarks. Then he started touching her…

Photo: Waldemar Brandt/Unsplash

According to the girl’s testimony, her client touched her inner thighs, unbuttoned her shirt to look at her chest, and touched her backside, knowing full well that all these things were forbidden, according to the contract he had signed. She was scared he was going to harm her, but there was no one around to call for help, so she had no choice but to endure.

Luckily, when the three hours were up, Chen respected the contract and let her go. Only the rented girlfriend went straight to the nearest police station and reported him. He was immediately arrested and confessed his guilt, even writing a letter of apology to the rented girlfriend. Unfortunately, it was not enough to save him from jail time.

The judge who ruled in this case considered Chen’s behavior reprehensible, but also took into consideration his repenting attitude and the fact that he had no prior convictions. He found the university student guilty of compulsory indecency, sentencing him to six months in jail, and ordering him to pay a fine of 180,000 Taiwanese dollars ($6,420).

Although this story dates back to 2019, it made news headlines in Taiwan, after Chen’s appeal was dismissed by Taiwan’ High Court yesterday, meaning that he will have to serve his jail sentence.