Taipei: Five youngsters have been indicted for imprisoning a teenage girl and sexually torturing her in one of Taiwan's worst youth bullying cases, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
The suspects, aged between 19 and 21 years old, were charged with locking up the 19-year-old for five days in October during which they sexually assaulted her with a ladle and other objects, according to the indictment papers.
Three youths under the age of 18 are also suspected in the case, and will face a separate hearing in a juvenile court.
The group is accused of abusing the girl in other ways including beating her, puncturing her mouth with needles, burning her with cigarette butts, applying salt on her wounds and forcing her to lick her own blood.
The girl eventually managed to escape while her watchman was out and was discovered by a neighbour who took her home, prosecutors said.
"The accused have shown no remorse for their crimes. Their methods were ruthless and inhumane and they inflicted severe physical and emotional damage on the victim," the indictment said.
Prosecutors sought 12 years in prison for the five suspects, who claimed that they just wanted to teach a lesson to the girl who was 'sharp-tongued' and often caused quarrels among her friends, prosecutors said.
Teen bullying has been on the rise in Taiwan with some serious cases making national headlines, prompting President Ma Ying-jeou to call for the establishment of an alert system in schools to tackle the problems.