Babysitter ordered to pay over NT$14 million for assaulting infant

Taipei, Feb. 6 (CNA) A woman found guilty of assaulting an infant and causing developmental delay as a result was ordered to pay nearly NT$14.12 million (US$430,147) as compensation in a civil suit, the Shilin District Court ruled Thursday.

According to the district court ruling, the compensation includes NT$1.5 million for each of the parents and more than NT$11.11 million for their son.

The parents sought compensation for medical bills, loss of income and mental distress. The court did not provide details about how it decided on the compensation amount.

The woman, a certified babysitter surnamed Hsiao (蕭), was sentenced by the Taiwan High Court in September last year to four years in prison for aggravated assault that caused seizures, developmental delay and damage to the infant's eyesight.

Hsiao began looking after the 8-month-old infant during the daytime on Feb. 11, 2019, according to the High Court judgement.

The infant's father surnamed Chang (張) picked the child up on Feb. 20. He called an ambulance after he found it difficult to wake his son.

The doctors found that the infant had suffered brain damage, impaired eyesight and developmental delay. The high court said this was "inflicted" by being severely shaken on that day.

The damage was so serious that the infant was listed as an individual with disabilities by the government as a result.

The civil case can be appealed.