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Chu breaks silence on `Scoop Weekly;' might sue for libel

The woman at the center of a storm surrounding a 40-minute sex video broke her silence yesterday, saying she may sue the tabloid Scoop Weekly for libel, among other damages.

On Monday, the magazine published a lengthy story about the alleged promiscuity of Chu Mei-feng (璩美鳳), the 36-year-old former director of Hsinchu's Cultural Affairs Bureau.

In addition, the magazine distributed a video shot secretly with a pinhole camera that purportedly shows Chu having a sexual encounter with a married man.

At a press conference yesterday, Chu through a close friend said she was considering filing a suit against Scoop Weekly for libel and violating her privacy.

"She is being hospitalized because she is very weak," said Huang Shan-shan (黃珊珊), a lawyer and New Party Taipei City Councilwoman. "She has been quiet for a few days, but she thought it's time for her to clarify some things and fight back."

In a statement read by Huang, Chu said Scoop Weekly had "sentenced her to death" with its unsubstantiated report and distribution of a video featuring a women who resembled her.

"We're ready to file a lawsuit against Scoop Weekly sometime next week," said Chung Yung-sheng (鍾永盛), Chu's lawyer.

"The magazine's unsubstantiated story as well as the pornographic VCD have violated many laws, such as Articles 315-2, 235 and 310 of the Criminal Code and Articles 18 and 195 of the Civil Code," Chung said. "However, Chu and I will sit down and discuss which articles of the law we are going to use to file suit against them in the next couple days."

Article 315-2 of the Criminal Code makes illegal the violation of a person's privacy for profit, such as using secret cameras to film women in public restrooms and later selling the footage.

Article 235 makes illegal the distribution or sale of indecent material. Article 310 covers criminal libel.

Article 18 of the Civil Code protects a person's human rights, such as the right to privacy. Article 195 allows someone to bring a suit for emotional damages caused by another party.

Though Chu is weighing the option of bringing a suit based on a violation of privacy, the female politician and her lawyer yesterday did not deny that it was Chu who appears on the VCD.

"Whether it was Chu on the VCD or not is not important anymore," Chung said. "Because at this moment, everybody believes it was her. Scoop Weekly has seriously libeled Chu and violated her human rights. There is no question about it."

In the meantime, Taipei pro-secutors and police officers stepped up their investigation of Scoop Weekly, visiting the magazine's headquarters in Hsintien, Taipei County, armed with a search warrant yesterday.

"According to our investigation, they printed 40,000 magazines for sale on Monday," said Chen Hung-ta (陳宏達), spokesman for the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office. "Of that number approximately 20,000 were sold, which is known for sure. However, grocery stores such as 7-11, Niko Mart and Family Mart refused to sell the latest edition of Scoop Weekly and returned them all."

Chen said these copies were sent back to the magazine's office and prosecutors were looking for them yesterday.
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