‘Violent house’ sale leads to eight-month jail term

[Dog's_Breakfast]

Wow! This would probably not be considered a crime anywhere else in the world!

‘Violent house’ sale leads to eight-month jail term

DPA , TAIPEI
Monday, Apr 13, 2009, Page 2

A man has been sentenced to prison for eight months for selling a house without telling the buyer that someone had committed suicide there, local media reported yesterday.

The Banqiao District Court handed down the sentence to Lee Chiong-chi (李炯祺) on Saturday because he did not tell the buyer surnamed Chang (張) that it was a “violent house” — a term meaning that an unnatural death, murder or suicide had occurred at the house, the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) reported.

more here...

This is really primitive.

[Jaboney]

Superstitious idiocy.

[Anubis]

Superstitious idiocy.

My ever-so-learned fellow engineers often go to the temple to pray for the safety of our products. My attempt at convincing them to spend more on R&D and QC falls on deaf ears.

[TheGingerMan]

Verily, the ghoul's ghostly rights are being grossly violated.

[Mother Theresa]

Superstitious idiocy.

I agree. In the US, perhaps you could rescind the sale, return the house and get your money back. I think there's a good chance you could as that would likely be considered a "material fact" about the house.

But a criminal sentence for non-disclosure during a simple civil sale of property? That's as dumb as Taiwan's criminal punishment for adultery.

I blame not just Taiwan's outdated, paternalistic, ridiculous laws, but the stupid and inexperienced judges and prosecutors. But give them a few more decades, maybe they'll learn.

[Icon]

I think the sentence was imposed not because the guy lied outrageously but rather to set a legal precedent over the breaking of the contract, as he had already signed on paper that the house was "ghost free". In this case, I would say it is setting an example, as he could as well have lied about whether radioactive bars were used for the columns, etc... We would not be surprised if someone who sold a house under those conditions -radioactive bars- would be panalized, too. For Taiwanese -and me too- a suicide is a major no-no, just as big as radioactive bars.

What I mean to say is that it is reasonable to penalize him for breaking the terms of the contract or bearing false witness -false statement we call that in Spanish- because it was especifically asked for in the contract. It was one of the conditions or terms.

That they gave it special force because it involved the spiritual word is another matter...

ps.
I remember there was a real estate agency that was offering 4 guarantees ver house buying: no radioactive bars, no sea salt used, and two other thinsg I cannot remember.

[Dog's_Breakfast]

I think the sentence was imposed not because the guy lied outrageously but rather to set a legal precedent over the breaking of the contract, as he had already signed on paper that the house was "ghost free". In this case, I would say it is setting an example, as he could as well have lied about whether radioactive bars were used for the columns, etc... We would not be surprised if someone who sold a house under those conditions -radioactive bars- would be panalized, too. For Taiwanese -and me too- a suicide is a major no-no, just as big as radioactive bars.

A major difference being that radioactive bars can give you cancer, and kill you. As for a ghost, if it bothers you, then the house should be returned and the seller forced to give back the money. You, the buyer, suffered no harm, other than inconvenience by having to move again, and maybe some stress. Criminal penalties seem inappropriate in this case. It should be a civil matter.

Here in Taidong, there's a hotel downtown that's been closed for nearly a year because one of the guests commited suicide by jumping from the top floor. It's a total loss - guests can't stay there because of the ghost, and the owner can't sell the building, so it sits vacant.

As for me personally, I couldn't care less if someone died in the house where I live, by means of suicide or whatever. Dead people have never caused me any trouble. It's always living people who cause trouble.

I wonder if this law also applies to land (rather than just a house). You can at least tear down a house and build a new one (I presume that gets rid of the ghosts), but what if someone dies on your vacant land? You know, there's probably not an acre of land left in Taiwan where somebody hasn't died an unnatural death. This island has been inhabited by aborigines for 12,000 years and they fought frequent tribal wars, with plenty of headhunting. Then the Han arrived 400 years ago and killed many aborigines (and each other). Then the Dutch, followed by the Japanese - the newcomers each left their own trail of blood behind. Last but not least, let's not forget Chiang Kaishek and the 228 Massacre. Do sellers of land have to account for every violent death since the beginning of time, or is there a statute of limitations?

cheers,
DB

[Tempo Gain]

Fraud is fraud. People take this really seriously here. Even if someone doesn't personally, it's a serious issue because it affects the potential resale of the property.

[Icon]

Fraud is fraud. People take this really seriously here. Even if someone doesn't personally, it's a serious issue because it affects the potential resale of the property.

That was the word I was looking for. Whether a fraud is a civil or penal issue, I leave it to the lawyers. I do like that a precedent has been set, and people who lie about teh house conditions, be it resident ghosts, sea salt, radioactive bars, faulty electric connections, rat infestations, whatever, etc.. are penalized as strongly as possible to deter this kind of fraud.

Though I do agree with Dog's breakfast (what a strange name!) that the living do cause more trouble than the dead...

[Tempo Gain]

Though I do agree with Dog's breakfast (what a strange name!) that the living do cause more trouble than the dead...

Sure, they're a lot more fun too though.