Thai Woman in Taiwan Faces Jail After Flushing Hamsters Down Toilet
A 27-year-old Thai woman is facing up to two years in prison in Taiwan after drowning ten hamsters in a toilet and filming the shocking act as revenge against her ex-boyfriend. The video went viral, sparking international outrage.
Revenge after breakup: hamsters as victims
The woman, identified as Sunny, had been in a toxic relationship with her Taiwanese boyfriend Xiang in Taichung City. When Xiang ended the relationship and told her to leave his apartment, she initially refused. In a fit of rage, she drowned his ten pet hamsters in the toilet — filming the cruelty and posting it on Instagram.
On August 27, she uploaded the videos, which spread rapidly across social media, drawing condemnation and fury worldwide. Though Sunny later deleted her accounts, the damage had already been done.
Illegal stay and animal cruelty charges
Sunny first entered Taiwan in 2023 on a tourist visa but stayed illegally to work. She left her young son in Thailand and initially found employment in an entertainment venue before moving in with Xiang. When their relationship collapsed, she refused to leave. On August 28, Xiang called police, who arrested her in Nantun City not only for animal cruelty but also for overstaying her visa by two years and working without a permit.
During questioning, Sunny admitted to killing the hamsters but claimed she acted to “save them,” insisting Xiang planned to feed them to snakes. Prosecutors dismissed her defence, describing her as evasive and unremorseful. The case has now been handed to court.
Possible penalty: up to two years behind bars
Animal cruelty is no minor offence in Taiwan. Sunny could face up to two years in jail and heavy fines. She may also be punished separately for sharing the disturbing footage online. Animal rights groups have filed complaints demanding severe punishment, pushing the case into the spotlight of Taiwan’s animal welfare debate.
But her legal troubles don’t stop there. In addition to animal cruelty charges, she faces prosecution for overstaying her visa and working illegally. If convicted, she is likely to be deported after serving her sentence, with a permanent ban from returning to Taiwan.
Her young son in Thailand remains separated from his mother — a harsh consequence of a shocking act that has horrified both Taiwan and the international community.