Part 2 Specific Offenses
Chapter 27 Offenses Against Reputation and Credit
Article 309
A person who publicly insults another shall be sentenced to short-term imprisonment or a fine of not more than nine thousand dollars.
A person who by violence commits an offense specified in the preceding paragraph shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year, short-term imprisonment, or a fine of not more than fifteen thousand dollars.
Article 310
A person who points out or disseminates a fact which will injure the reputation of another for purpose that it be communicated to the pubic commits the offense of slander and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year, short-term imprisonment, or a fine of not more than fifteen thousand dollars.
A person who by circulating a writing or drawing commits an offense specified in the preceding paragraph shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years, short-term imprisonment, or a fine of not more than thirty thousand dollars.
A person who can prove the truth of the defamatory fact shall not be punished for the offense of defamation unless the fact concerns private life and is of no public concern.
Article 311
A person who makes a statement with bona-fide intent under one of the following circumstances shall not be punished:
1. Self-defense, self-justification, or the protection of legal interest
2. A report made by a public official in his official capacity
3. Fair comment on a fact subject to public criticism
4. Fair report on the proceedings of a national or local assembly, court, or a public meeting
Article 312
A person who publicly insults a deceased person shall be sentenced to short-term imprisonment or a fine of not more than nine thousand dollars.
A person who commits the offense of defamation of a deceased person shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year, short-term imprisonment, or a fine of not more than thirty thousand dollars.
Article 313
A person, who damages the credit of another by circulating rumors, or by other fraudulent means, shall be sentenced to no more than two years of imprisonment, or short-term imprisonment; in lieu thereof, or in addition thereto, a fine of no more than two hundred thousand New Taiwan Dollars may be imposed.
A person guilty of the offense as described in the preceding paragraph, using radio, television, electronic communications, the Internet or other means of communication media, shall receive increased punishment for up to one half the prescribed amount
Article 314
Prosecution for an offense specified in this Chapter may be instituted only upon complaint.