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Police halt publication of `Scoop'

Lawyer Chen Su-fen condemns the commercial distribution of a sexually explicit VCD at a press conference held by the Taiwan Women's Link yesterday. PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES

Taipei investigators continued their crackdown on Scoop Weekly yesterday, confiscating the printing plates used to produce the tabloid magazine's latest edition.

The controversial Scoop issue, which has been pulled from store shelves, provides a lengthy account of a female politician's alleged promiscuity.

Investigators yesterday also seized the master copy of a VCD that was distributed free with the magazine. The VCD contains a 40-minute video that purportedly depicts a sexual encounter between Chu Mei-feng (璩美鳳) and her married lover.

Without the plates, Scoop Weekly cannot print additional copies of its magazine.

Prosecutors yesterday said they seized the plates and the VCD master copy because the materials were "pornographic."

In all, prosecutors visited five printing factories around Taipei County where Scoop Weekly has been printing its latest edition.

On Tuesday, the Government Information Office (GIO) said it had asked police to confiscate the controversial VCD from sellers -- but it would continue to allow the magazine to circulate.

Investigators yesterday also went to Chu's Tamsui apartment where the video on the VCD was allegedly secretly filmed with a pinhole camera.

But they were unable to meet with Chu or gather any evidence from her home.

According to the story in Scoop Weekly, the VCD depicts Chu having sex with a man in her Tamsui apartment home on Aug. 14.

Chu has not commented on the tabloid's story.

Although the 36-year-old politician has not acknowledged that she is the woman in the video or filed a complaint, investigators say the VCD may violate the privacy of the video's two subjects.

Wu Kuo-ai (吳國愛), chief prosecutor of the Taiwan High Court, has ordered district prosecutors nationwide to confiscate the VCDs.

"This VCD has been reviewed by our prosecutors," said Chen Hung-ta (陳宏達), spokesman for the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office.

"They confirmed that the VCD contains pornographic pictures which were illegally filmed by a hidden camera in a private household. As a result, our investigators have decided to crack down," Chen said.

According to Chen, anyone caught distributing the video would be in violation of Articles 235 and 315 of the Criminal Code.

Chen said police will "also try to arrest those who are trying to purchase or sell the VCD on the Internet as well."

In addition, a US-bound passenger who was carrying a copy of the VCD was arrested by immigration officers at CKS airport, according to Chen. Officers confiscated the VCD and transferred the suspect to district prosecutors.

On Tuesday, Shen Yeh (沈野), publisher of Scoop Weekly, filed a complaint at the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office, saying the GIO had abused its authority by confiscating the VCDs.

"These government officials are violating the freedom of the press," Shen said.

But the GIO says distribution of the VCD violated the Broadcasting and Television Law, because the VCD was not submitted to the government for review before its release.

"This magazine was simply trying to sell pornographic material for the purpose of making a profit," said GIO Director General Su Tzen-ping (蘇正平).

"They were actually challenging our traditional moral standards. It has nothing to do with the freedom of the press." he said.

Su said that while the GIO does not have the right to enforce the law, prosecutors and police do.

"We can only help confiscate illegal publications as well as illegal VCDs," he said.

"However, it's the prosecutors' decision as to whether they should charge the magazine with violation of the law as the evidence becomes available."
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